Mark Williams could make history at the Crucible in 2026 by completing a rare double at the World Snooker Championships in Sheffield. The Welsh legend is targeting a fourth world title in the main championship before immediately turning his attention to the World Seniors Championship, which begins just days after the Crucible final. Any prize money he earns at the seniors event will be donated to charity, continuing a tradition he followed when he previously won the title in Blackpool a decade ago.
The three-time world champion, who claimed world crowns in 2000, 2003 and 2018, plans to remain in Sheffield to compete in the 24-player World Seniors Championship from May 6 to 10. At 50, Williams is aiming not only to lift another Crucible trophy but also to reinforce his status as one of the game’s most enduring greats.
Currently ranked world number four, Williams was runner-up at last season’s World Championship after losing 18-12 to Zhao Xintong. When the 50th staging of the Crucible tournament takes place between April 18 and May 4, he will again be chasing the distinction of becoming the oldest winner of the modern era.
Williams won the World Seniors title in 2015 with victory over Fergal O’Brien, but the competition has grown significantly tougher since then. With ranking restrictions eased, several high-profile players are now eligible, including former world champion Stuart Bingham and ex-UK and Masters winner Matthew Stevens.
The Seniors field will also feature well-known names such as four-time champion Jimmy White, 1997 world champion Ken Doherty, and 12-time women’s world champion Reanne Evans, alongside recently retired ranking-event winners Joe Perry and Dominic Dale. Alfie Burden returns as defending champion after winning the 2025 final, while Perry arrives in strong form following his British Seniors Open triumph in Derby.
Already the oldest winner of a ranking event after his recent Grand Prix success, Williams now has the chance to further cement his legacy by achieving a remarkable World Championship and Seniors double in 2026.
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