Williams has been open about health struggles that have threatened his snooker career, including eyesight issues that require surgery. According to Daily Mirror - Main, Williams fears that if the procedure goes wrong, it could end his career. He also fears he may be experiencing the yips, a sudden inability to execute certain skills.
Despite these challenges, Williams remains a formidable competitor with three World Snooker Championship crowns from 2000, 2003, and 2018. He reached the final last year, losing 18-12 to Zhao Xintong, and earlier this year lost 10-8 to John Higgins in the Tour Championship. In October 2025, at age 50 years and 206 days, he became the oldest winner of a ranking event, breaking Ray Reardon's record.
However, his recent form has been inconsistent, as he was beaten by Barry Hawkins in the quarter-finals of the Welsh Open last month. Williams currently sits sixth in the world rankings. Williams kicks off his World Championship campaign with a first-round tie against Antoni Kowalski on Saturday.
He has a history of health scares, including a 2019 incident where he experienced chest pains during a World Championship match but was told he did not suffer a heart problem. Williams also has a phobia of tea bags, known as diclebgophobia.