Oldest World Snooker champion in 40 years crowned: stats show shift in age of Crucible winner

The Welsh potting machine Mark Williams became the oldest winner of the World Snooker Championship since compatriot Ray Reardon in 1978 at the age of 43 when he beat John Higgins 18-16 in Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre.

Williams’ third world title came 15 years after his previous success in the cue sport’s biggest tournament – an event which he remarkably didn’t even qualify for 12 months earlier. This triumph by a veteran potter reflects an increasing trend of more mature Crucible winners with 2005-06 proving a watershed.

Life in the old dogs yet

All of the last eight World Snooker champions have been 30 years old minimum with an average age of 35.5. Just two since 2005 – Graeme Dott in 2006 and Neil Robertson in 2010 – were under this threshold.  Based on that trend, you should check William Hill betting offers and use any free bets to back another seasoned veteran reigns supreme at the Crucible again next year.[vc_raw_html]JTNDaWZyYW1lJTIwd2lkdGglM0QlMjI4NTQlMjIlMjBoZWlnaHQlM0QlMjI0ODAlMjIlMjBzcmMlM0QlMjJodHRwcyUzQSUyRiUyRnd3dy55b3V0dWJlLmNvbSUyRmVtYmVkJTJGa1lrRWd4SklqWW8lMjIlMjBmcmFtZWJvcmRlciUzRCUyMjAlMjIlMjBhbGxvdyUzRCUyMmF1dG9wbGF5JTNCJTIwZW5jcnlwdGVkLW1lZGlhJTIyJTIwYWxsb3dmdWxsc2NyZWVuJTNFJTNDJTJGaWZyYW1lJTNF[/vc_raw_html]It is in stark contrast to the previous decade and a half, however. From 1990 to 2006 only two winners at the Crucible were 30 or over; Peter Ebdon in 2002 and Stephen Hendry when securing his seventh and final Sheffield success in 1999.

While Hendry’s dominance of snooker in the 1990s and the Steve Davis dynasty of the 1980s are key to explaining what once upon a time was the prevailing trend of younger players winning world championships, the shift in age is down to four or five potters. Shock 2015 Crucible king Stuart Bingham is the only sole victor among those, but Williams, Mark Selby, Ronnie O’Sullivan and Higgins are all three-time champions or more.

What’s ironic is Williams, The Rocket and Higgins were also among the under 30 winners in and around the turn of the century aged 25 and 22 respectively. Manchester United fans revere the Class of ’92 in football; well snooker should do the same with this trio who all turned professional in that year.

Rankings and bookies also reflect trend

A glimpse at the end of 2017-18 season World Snooker rankings also highlights how older players are staying at the top. Only four of the top 16 are under the age of 31; headed by Judd Trump and this year’s Crucible sem i-finalist Kyren Wilson who are both rated among the 10 best potters on the baize.

Seven of the top eight, led by Mark Selby who is still world number one despite an early exit in Sheffield, are either in their 30s or 40s. Queuing up behind The Jester from Leicester – winner of three of the last five World Snooker Championships – are that class of ’92; O’Sullivan, Williams and Higgins in that order.

Bookmakers are also cottoning on that it’s an older man’s game these days. World Snooker Championship sponsors Betfred have already priced up a market on who will triumph at The Crucible next year and only two players in the possible field – Trump and Wilson – are currently shorter than 33/1 and under 30.

As is often the case no chances are taken with O’Sullivan, who heads the betting at 3/1 from Selby (9/2). Only 8/1 chance Trump is in amongst the old guard with Higgins at 7/1 and Williams 12/1 to repeat his heroics from this season. Bar these, Robertson and Ding Junhui – The Chinese Sensation who bases himself in Sheffield yet has never triumphed at The Cruible yet – it’s 20/1 and bigger the rest.