Mark Williams Assesses Judd Trump's Legacy in Snooker's GOAT Debate
Snooker's greatest-of-all-time discussions are perpetually contentious, and veteran champion Mark Williams has now offered his perspective on where contemporary superstar Judd Trump stands in the historical pantheon. The two icons are set to clash in the Players Championship quarter-finals on Thursday evening, continuing a storied rivalry that has delivered numerous memorable encounters.
A Rivalry Forged in Championship Crucibles
Their competitive history includes Trump's narrow 10-9 victory over Williams in the Saudi Arabia Masters final, alongside two dramatic World Championship semi-final battles. Trump claimed victory in 2022, while Williams emerged triumphant in 2025. With three world titles to his name compared to Trump's single championship, Williams believes the current world number one requires additional Crucible success to ascend to the absolute summit of the sport.
'He's got to be in the top four or five easily,' Williams declared regarding Trump's historical standing. 'I think if anything's missing, it's another World Championship. I've always put Ronnie O'Sullivan, John Higgins and Stephen Hendry there. I think if he wins one more World, I'd put him in front of Hendry, with Ronnie and Higgins just behind.'
The Welsh legend elaborated further: 'But even if he doesn't win the World again, he's still in the top four or five anyway. For him to be up there with O'Sullivan, Higgins and Hendry, he needs to win at least one more. With Mark Selby too, you've got to win another World to just creep up past him. I think he'd be disappointed if he didn't.'
Era Comparisons and Competitive Context
Williams, who modestly excluded himself from GOAT consideration, positioned Trump ahead of six-time world champion Steve Davis due to the heightened competitive standards of the modern era. 'I can't rank him in the top four or five. Just because of the people now, they're doing it in the era where it's the toughest by far,' he explained.
'Steve Davis was a brilliant player. Nothing but respect for him. But him at his peak, playing now with all these boys, he's nowhere near winning six World Championships. He'd still win a couple, but it's hard in this era to win six.'
The Thrill of Competition Across Generations
At 50 years old, Williams relishes his ongoing battles with Trump, taking particular satisfaction in competing with—and occasionally defeating—a player fourteen years his junior. 'I think every time you play Judd, you know you have to play well,' he observed. 'And sometimes I've played really well against him and still lost.'
'Just to be playing Judd in the quarter-final of these big tournaments is a privilege for me. I didn't think I'd still be doing it at 51 next month,' Williams admitted. 'If he beats me, gives me a good hiding, it's not the end of the world. It's just nice to still be there, you know, fighting him with these youngsters. Keep on trucking!'
Mutual Respect and Unpredictable Challenges
Their most recent encounter saw Trump secure a 4-0 victory at the Riyadh Season Championship, though Williams struggled with challenging conditions. Trump anticipates a much tougher contest in Telford. 'The last time I played him was the worst I've ever seen him play!' Trump revealed. 'Normally he's very, very solid. He doesn't miss much, doesn't do a lot wrong.'
Trump elaborated on Williams' unique playing style: 'He has very strange shot selection. You're very on edge when you're playing him. I think he has a very different game to Ronnie and John. You kind of know they've got that standard or you know what they're going to do. With Mark it's a little bit different. You don't know what you're going to get as much with him. That's what puts you on edge a little bit.'
'If he was practising eight hours a day, I'd know I'd have to go in and be on it from the start. Sometimes that's a lot easier for me to deal with. I just try and go in with that mindset. He's still an amazing player on his day.'
Overcoming Adversity and Maintaining Competitive Spirit
Reflecting on their Riyadh encounter, Williams described conditions that made victory seem impossible. 'I can't say too much to get a fine, but yeah, it was tough conditions. I think I'm all right to say that,' he commented cautiously.
'Very tricky when the cue ball's coming off twice and three times the speed of going on the cushion and it's playing a little bit heavy. That's my worst nightmare. I almost know I can't win. As soon as I go up there and the conditions are like that, I can't win. Sometimes it's easier to shake his hand and say, yeah, well done, and just not even play!'
Williams acknowledged Trump's advantage in difficult circumstances: 'But that's just the way my game is. Judd, he can handle tough conditions better because he's got more power and that's what you need. I haven't really got that much cue power like the big boys.'
Despite this self-assessment, Williams remains firmly among snooker's elite competitors as he prepares to face Trump at 7pm on Thursday for a coveted spot in the Players Championship semi-final, continuing a rivalry that enriches the sport's ongoing historical narrative.
