Rex Williams

Rex Williams ( born July 20, 1933, Halesowen, England ), son of Minnie Roberts and William Williams, is a retired English snooker and English - Billiards - professional players.

Career

In both disciplines, Snooker and English Billiards, Williams was an excellent junior players. His professional career began in 1951, during a period of decline of snooker. In the 1960s, the World Snooker Championships was played as a challenger tournament, he met in the finals in 1964 and 1965 on the champion John Pulman, but lost both times. In December 1966 during an exhibition event in Cape Town, he was second by Joe Davis who scored an accredited maximum break of 147 points.

Williams won the World Billiards Championship seven between times 1968 and 1983. Snooker In he was not quite so successful. He twice reached the semifinals of the World Cup, lost there in 1972, just ahead of Alex Higgins ( with four frames located at the front, and five still to be played ), and in 1974 against Graham Miles. After the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield in 1977 became the permanent venue for the World Cup, he won no more play in the World Cup finals; - Despite eight other participants. A record he shares with Cliff Wilson. Recalling his comeback against Terry Griffiths in the first round of the UK Championship in 1979. 8:1 remains back, when he still won 9:8 in the first match via TV transmitted by Griffith, who became world champion at the end of the season. Through the reach of the Rothmans Grand Prix 1986, he presented with its 53 years, a new age record for the achievement of a ranking tournament finals on. The final, however, he lost against Jimmy White with 6:10. Its highest World Ranking was the sixth place in the 1976 / 77th

Williams was very active in the administration of Snooker and English Billiards. In 1968, he was responsible for the reintroduction of the Professional Billiards Players Association under the umbrella organization of the World Professional Billiards & Snooker Association ( WPBSA ). From 1968 to 1987 and from 1997 to 1999, he worked as its chairman. In 2001 he was removed from his post after fiduciary irregularities were accused and he was asked attorneys' fees and court costs in the amount of £ 28,268 to pay back. Already in the following year, however, he was reinstated as a full member. The association later apologized to him for this procedure.

In the 1980s, Williams also worked as a commentator for the BBC and ITV in the snooker coverage.