Mark Williams given very fitting birthday present as snooker star becomes first of Class of ’92 to turn 50
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Mark Williams – you are snooker’s top pitta-eating potter.
To mark his 50th today, the World Snooker Tour presented the three-time world champion with a special ‘kebab cake’ during this week’s Players Championship in Telford.
The Welshman’s last Crucible success, in May 2018, was fuelled by a 2.30am mid-final kebab full of Doner meat, which he normally eats covered in dollops of chilli sauce.
Hertfordshire cake-baker Vicki made the madeira cake, which is filled with jam and buttercrea.
It was the brainchild of WST executive Ivan Hirschowitz.
Everything in the box is edible, including the chalk and black bow tie.
Willo – the first of the Class of ’92 trio to reach this special milestone – laughed when he saw the present backstage.
He said: “A nice Doner kebab! Perfect! Can I eat this? Let me take a photo.”
Like Williams, two other cueing legends – John Higgins turns 50 on May 18 and Ronnie O’Sullivan ticks into his sixth decade on December 5 – are also at the top of their game.
This is despite turning professional 33 years ago.
If Williams wins the Tour Championship next month in Manchester – or even wins again at world level in Sheffield – he will become the oldest ranking tournament winner in the sport’s professional era.
The late Ray Reardon holds that record as he won the Professional Players Tournament in 1982.
Reardon was aged 50 years and 14 days at that time.
The Boy from the Valleys has DONER good.