Welsh snooker player Mark Williams shared a photo of him taking oxygen during the 2025 Tianren Cup Lhasa Winter Plateau Snooker Challenge exhibition event in Lhasa, Tibet (Image: X: @markwil147)
Welsh snooker ace Mark Williams has shared an image of himself using oxygen during a match. The three-time world champion raised eyebrows on Sunday when he posted a photo of himself connected to an oxygen tank and sporting nasal tubes.
In the caption, Williams noted that “oxygen [was] needed at the interval” and hinted that he felt like he was “going to fall over on the first frame”. Concerned fans quickly questioned his health, but the 49-year-old reassured them, explaining that the oxygen was necessary due to the location of the game.
Currently, the Welshman is participating in the 2025 Tianren Cup Lhasa Winter Plateau Snooker Challenge exhibition event in Lhasa, Tibet. This follows his trip to China last week for the CBSA Superstar Invitational event.
Due to the high altitude of Lhasa, oxygen is essential or, as he told one worried fan, “it’s goodnight Irene”. Responding to supporters, Williams added: “I’m fine, I’m not sick atm. It’s ’cause I’m in Tibet, 15,000 [feet] up in the sky.”
When asked by a fan if he was “going for the first ever 147 at the summit of Everest,” the Welsh native replied: “Staying on your feet is good in itself.”
Ding Junhui, Judd Trump and Xiao Guodong are also participating in the exhibition event, with Trump sharing photos of the venue on his account.