Barry Hawkins vs Mark Williams Preview & Prediction | 2026 World Snooker Championship | Second Round

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After despatching Matthew Stevens in the first round, Barry Hawkins takes on another Welshman in the form of the decorated Mark Williams.

Kick-off date/time:

How to watch on TV: UK – BBC & TNT Sports / USA – Not televised

How to watch online: UK – BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website & HBO Max / USA – Cannot be streamed

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Barry Hawkins vs Mark Williams prediction

Barry Hawkins ended his five-year wait for a Crucible victory by seeing off fellow veteran Matthew Stevens with minimal fuss in the first round.

The 2013 runner-up was a 10-4 victor against Stevens but was rarely pushed, and knows he will need to move up a gear if he is to lay a glove on three-time world champion Mark Williams.

Williams was also rarely troubled in his opener as he saw off Polish debutant Anton Kowalski by the same scoreline.

The Welsh Potting Machine boasts a dominant record against Hawkins when it comes career meetings, having won 20 of their 27 contests, although Hawkins did take the spoils in their most recent clash, winning 4-2 in the last 16 of this year's Welsh Open on his way to lifting his fifth ranking title.

The pair's sole Crucible meeting was an epic semi-final in 2018 which Williams took 17-15, and we can also see this one going the way of the laid-back Welshman. Williams was a finalist in Sheffield last year and looked the smoother of the two in their respective first-round wins.

Barry Hawkins vs Mark Williams tip: Mark Williams to win