Snooker legend Mark Williams ‘deadly serious’ about bizarre phobia

Mark Williams is a unique snooker player in many ways and must be the only professional who suffers with this very specific phobia.

The three-time world champion is still going strong at 50 years old, ranked number four in the world ahead of his 51st birthday this month.

The Welshman became the oldest ever winner of a ranking event this season when he won the Xi’an Grand Prix, beating Shaun Murphy in the final in October, having reached the World Championship final in May last year.

He is achieving remarkable things on the snooker table and suffers from a remarkable phobia off it.

The Welsh Potting Machine is far more comfortable around the snooker table than the kitchen table as he cannot stand being near teabags.

Williams revealed his fear to BBC presenter Catrin Heledd during coverage of the Welsh Open last week and she exposed it to the world.

‘I can’t believe you said it live on air,’ said Williams. I’m in trouble now.’

Stephen Hendry, the former rival and long-time friend of the Welsh great, has confirmed that Williams is not messing about.

Known for his sense of humour, Williams is not always being serious, but Hendry says he is being entirely genuine when it comes to his hatred of teabags.

‘Yeah, I have threatened him when we go and have a game of golf, I’ll have a couple in the bag when he’s ready to putt,’ Hendry said on WST’s Snooker Club podcast.

‘He said if I do it: “Be prepared, because I will punch you.”

‘It’s so weird and he’s deadly serious about it. Honestly he says: “If you ever do that, I will come for you. You can’t do that.”

‘It’s the strangest thing ever. He doesn’t drink tea or coffee or any hot drinks. I don’t know where it’s come from.

‘I will do it one time, though. I will do it. Because the amount of things he does to me that I tell him not to do, the list is long.’

Williams lost out to eventual champion Barry Hawkins in the last 16 of the Welsh Open and now has a couple of weeks off before his next action.

The Welsh great next plays at the World Open in Yushan on March 17, then he goes on to the Tour Championship in Manchester, the final stop on the road to Sheffield for the World Championship.

After making his Crucible debut in 1997, Williams will be making his 28th appearance at the famous venue in 2026.

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