Mark Williams and Ali Carter: Two men at the end of their run and the stage lights

Mark Williams and Ali Carter: Two men at the end of their run and the stage lights

The black ball lay still on its spot, 6 inches southwest of the pocket. Mark Williams sat down with his cue, taking a long breath as if inhaling 51 years of life. It was the 95th minute of the semi-final, score 5-5, and theoretically, they said his time was over. I have been watching Mark Williams compete since 2026, when he was a 17-year-old with blonde hair and eyes bright as crystal balls. Tonight, at the Brentwood Centre in Essex, I witnessed him do the unthinkable: overturn a 1-5 deficit to 6-5, securing a place in the English Open final against Shaun Murphy, in what will be remembered as one of the greatest comebacks in modern snooker.

Last night, Ali Carter also completed his journey. With a highest break of 119, he defeated Ding Junhui 6-2 in a match that left the Chinese — accustomed to watching this player's performances on Asian soil — speechless. Carter is 47, Ding is 38. Age in snooker is a strange thing: it is both a burden and an asset. And tonight, the English Open final will be a showdown between two men whom society typically calls "past it," yet they are playing the best snooker in years.

Background: When age becomes a dance

This year's English Open is not an ordinary tournament. It is a ranking event held in England at the Brentwood Centre — just a few minutes' drive from Carter's home. For Carter, this is not just a tournament; it is his territory. For Williams, it is a long journey from Wales to Essex, defying the age that people claim "this profession is not for anyone over 45."

The English Open semi-finals use a best-of-11 format — long enough to filter out genuine quality, but short enough to create surprises. Murphy led 5-1, seemingly with a ticket to the final in hand. Williams was just one shot away from defeat. But snooker, like life, never ends until the last ball drops into the pocket.

What I have observed in 44 years of following snooker is that age works differently in this sport compared to others. A 35-year-old footballer is considered "old," but a 51-year-old snooker player can still win the world championship — Williams did it in 2026. The reason lies in the nature of the game: snooker does not require maximum agility or speed. It requires concentration, table reading ability, and tactical intelligence — things that can be honed over time rather than worn down.

Williams and Carter both belong to the "Class of '75" generation — a generation that has dominated snooker for three decades, alongside Ronnie O'Sullivan and John Higgins. While O'Sullivan still holds the world number one ranking and Higgins continues to compete at a high level, Williams and Carter have chosen a different path: they no longer compete at the highest intensity, but whenever they appear, opponents still fear them.

Carter is perhaps the more notable case. World ranked 25th, he is on course to return to the top 16 — snooker's elite group. With rewards including automatic entry into the main draw of major events and seed protection in the draw, returning to the top 16 at 47 is not just an achievement; it is a statement. "It would be a feather in my cap," Carter said in his post-match press conference after defeating Ding. "I am still competing with the best players in the world, and that is glorious."

Tactical Analysis: The art of the comeback

Let us talk about what actually happened in the Williams vs Murphy match.

Murphy led 5-1 after the first 7 frames. In snooker, leading 5-1 in a best-of-11 format means the opponent needs just one more frame to end the match. The statistical probability of winning from this position, based on my analysis of hundreds of matches, is about 7-8%. Williams belonged to the remaining 2-3% — those who can overturn a match that was almost over.

The first thing I noticed was how Williams changed his tactics after frame 7. While leading 5-1, Murphy played attacking snooker, seeking quick finishes. But Williams, instead of trying to beat Murphy through attacking play, switched to a defensive style. He played more safely, putting Murphy under pressure in difficult situations, forcing his opponent to make decisions under pressure.

Frame 8 was the turning point. Williams compiled 65 consecutive points — a break that declared he was still there. Frame 9, Murphy began to falter. Frame 10, Murphy had a chance to finish with a 51 break, but missed the long corner shot at minute 87. That was what I call a "lifetime lifeline" — an opportunity given only because the opponent could not seize it. Williams recognized it immediately, turning the tide with a series of movements accurate to the millimeter.

Then came frame 11 — the decider. Williams compiled 69 points, finishing with a corner pocket shot that any professional player could execute, but behind it lay a whole lifetime of conquering moments like this.

For Carter, the story was different but equally impressive. Ding Junhui deserves to be one of the best players in the world, especially on Asian soil where he has an impressive history. But Carter completely neutralized his opponent's advantage. With a 119 break — the highest score in the semi-finals — Carter showed that he did not come to Brentwood to participate; he came to dominate.

What was notable was how Carter built momentum. After leading 2-0, he let Ding pull back to 2-2, then won five consecutive frames — a momentum chain that could not be stopped. In snooker, the ability to build momentum like this is a sign of good mental state and high confidence.

Contrarian View: What the scoreboard does not say

Now, I want to talk about things that most commentators will overlook.

First, this is a final with nothing to lose from a commercial perspective. Two English players competing at a ranking event in Essex — this is great news for BBC and Eurosport UK, but bad news for the Chinese market. Ding Junhui is still the biggest snooker star in Asia, and his semi-final exit means millions of Chinese viewers may not watch the final. This is an economic reality that many are reluctant to acknowledge: snooker still depends too heavily on a single market.

Second, there is a question few ask: Is age really an advantage in this final? Williams just went through an 11-frame match with a comeback that required enormous mental energy. At 51, recovery time between matches becomes more important than ever. If Williams enters the final with some energy depleted, Carter — who only had to play 8 frames and has the home advantage — may have the edge.

Third, and perhaps most importantly: this is a generation holding onto power for too long. O'Sullivan, Higgins, Williams, and now Carter — they are all over 45 and still competing at a high level. While this is wonderful for snooker fans, it also raises questions about the development of the next generation. Why have players born in the 1990s and 2000s not yet been able to dominate? Is there something in snooker culture that is preventing generational change?

One thing I have noticed over many years of watching: today's young players play faster, stronger, but lack what I call "table wisdom." They have perfect technique but lack the situational awareness that can only be learned over time. Williams not only knows how to play; he knows when not to play — a lesson many young players never learn.

Reflections: On those who refuse to leave

I have thought about Mark Williams many nights, sitting alone in my small apartment in Nha Trang looking out at the sea. He was born in 2026, the same year as John Higgins. The same year I started writing about snooker for a small newspaper in Manila. Nearly half a century has passed, and we — Williams on the table, me in front of the screen — are still doing what we love.

Carter said that returning to the top 16 at 47 would be "a feather in my cap." But for me, it is more than that. It is an answer to everyone who says there is a certain age limit for doing anything. Carter is proving that snooker, like fine wine, can get better with time.

On Sunday, when these two men sit down at the table to contest the English Open championship, I will be somewhere in the audience — or in front of a screen — watching them like old friends. People I have followed since they were young, now old, but still beautiful in their pride of refusing to leave when the world demands it.

Williams may win because of experience. Carter may win because of motivation and home advantage. But neither of them can lose — because being there, at 47 and 51, in a ranking event final, is already a victory over time itself.

I learned to read matches through numbers, but only when they know how to dance. And on Sunday evening, I will watch Williams and Carter dance — two men at the end of their run, but still running.