Mark Williams vs Antoni Kowalski Preview & Prediction | 2026 World Snooker Championship | First Round

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Polish debutant Antoni Kowalski has quite the job on his hands in the first round as he faces three-time winner 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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Mark Williams vs Antoni Kowalski prediction

Three-time world champion Mark Williams remains one of the elite players in the game despite entering his 28th World Championship at the ripe age of 51.

A beaten finalist last year, Williams won the Xi'an Grand Prix last October but has very much played down his Crucible prospects this time around and has recently spoken of the 'yips' creeping into his game.

At the opposite end of his career, Antoni Kowalski enters Sheffield as the first Polish player to feature in the main draw of the World Snooker Championship.

The 22-year-old is very much finding his feet on tour but retained his card by defeating Jamie Jones 10-8 in the in the final round of qualifying for the worlds.

Kowalski should relish this opportunity and is unlikely to get blown away given that Williams typically isn't a fast starter. The experienced Welshman is the overwhelming favourite though, and should be able to cover a decent handicap providing he has ironed out the recent kinks in his game.

Mark Williams vs Antoni Kowalski tip: Mark Williams to win with -4.5 frames handicap