I played him in an exhibition frame back in 1986. He destroyed me 105-7 in about five minutes. He lives in my village and is a lovely chap. In his eighties now. He gave up playing about 15 years ago, never picked up a cue since.
He probably could have, I saw an exhibition match at Derby assembly rooms back in the 80s and Terry Griffiths played a frame against some local lad and he knocked in 80 plus break in about 3 minutes he was running around the table, when there is no pressure on them they will throw caution to the wind 👍
Rex was a tremendous billiards player too. Ironically, he beat Jack Karnehm (doing the commentary) in the UK Billiards Championship final. He lost in the 1972 World Snooker Championship semi to Alex Higgins by one frame (something over seventy frames in that match) who, of course, beat Spencer in the final. He did a huge amount for the infrastructure of snooker. At 87 years old, he's still a very good golf player who can do a sub 85 round. Phenomenal!
Nice upload, not the most fluent of players Rex, but he was an accomplished player and a great billiards player winning the world title 7 times. The £4000 high break prize he received here was not to be sniffed at in 1984 either, it was probably more than what he got for qualifying for the 1st round..
Rex was a very decent bloke always spoke up for Alex Higgins when he was chairman of the WPBSA and Alex was up in front of the board on disciplinary charges though he was outvoted by other members
When Higgins was 7 - 0 down to Steve Davis after the first session of the UK Championship, Williams gave Higgins a huge pint drink that had 4 or 5 vodkas in it and got him to drink it to basically give him a boost. It worked as he beat David 16 - 15!
If I remember rightly Rex used to take Beta Blockers ostensibly for a medical condition.But in those days they were used by many sportsmen as they slowed down the heartrate and calmed nerves and shaky hands.But eventually they were banned so Rex was forced to retire as there was no medical exemption for their use which seems a bit harsh.
@@GenialHarryGrout - Aye, I believe he used it to control a hand tremor he had. Fun fact - Bill was the only person in the world to receive tax relief on his lager consumption.. 🤣🤣🤣
Sadly for Rex he was robbed of what should’ve been his prime years. He won the English Amateur Championship in 1951, aged 17 and turned professional the same year. Joe Davis tipped him as a future World Champion but by 1957 the professional game was dead. He had no choice but to abandon his snooker aspirations at the age of just 24 and go into his father’s printing business.
@@chrisbland6942 Cliff Wilson was similarly denied. By all accounts he was a phenomenal player as a young man, with a lightning fast attacking style of play (still visible in his pro years decades later).
@@LerafoLuap Yes, definitely. Cliff was the big crowd puller at Burroughes Hall in Soho Square, home of the amateur game. He was only 19 when he reached the English Amateur final in 1954. There’s loads of top amateurs from the 50’s and 60’s who were effectively shut out of the professional ranks - Wilson and Pat Houlihan were the outstanding natural talents I suppose, but also Geoff Thompson, Ronnie Gross, Ray Edmonds, Jonathan Barron, Gary and Marcus Owen, not to mention Reardon and Spencer.
Perrie Mans, the first left hander to make the WSC final, never made a hundred break in official competition play! Does anyone recall Cliff Wilson, a terrific one pot player, but not consistent enough. The times that snooker got audiences of 15 million.
@@harry2.01 Cliff Wilson was the O’Sullivan of the 1950’s, packing out every venue he played in with his outrageous potting and quick fire break building. There was no money in the game though so he retired for fifteen years and worked long shifts in a steel works to support his wife and 4 children. It wasn’t until the 70’s that he was persuaded to pick up his cue again. He regained the Welsh title and went on to win the World Amateur title before turning professional. Remarkably, he was ranked in the top 16 at the age of 55 and nearly blind in one eye. He also knocked Ronnie O’Sullivan out of the UK Championship in 1992, aged 58!
I played him in an exhibition frame back in 1986. He destroyed me 105-7 in about five minutes.
He lives in my village and is a lovely chap. In his eighties now. He gave up playing about 15 years ago, never picked up a cue since.
Rex COULD nEVER ever score 105 in less then 12 minutes'
He probably could have, I saw an exhibition match at Derby assembly rooms back in the 80s and Terry Griffiths played a frame against some local lad and he knocked in 80 plus break in about 3 minutes he was running around the table, when there is no pressure on them they will throw caution to the wind 👍
God bless him
Great old player, gentleman. Tough as nails too. Very knowledgeable commentator.
@@christiano8088yep a class act indeed. Great commentator with a commanding presence on the snooker table.
A wonderful man and a great snooker and billiards player. The modern game owes great deal to players like Rex; he was always a true gentleman.
Just met Rex Williams at work.. wow what a legend, amazing to hear his stories!
Great upload ..Love watching these old matches 👌
He had a purple patch not too long after this reaching the grand prix final and the semi final of the classic. Had a lovely touch around the table
Very 'soft' touch. Lot of feathers, though?
Rex was a tremendous billiards player too. Ironically, he beat Jack Karnehm (doing the commentary) in the UK Billiards Championship final. He lost in the 1972 World Snooker Championship semi to Alex Higgins by one frame (something over seventy frames in that match) who, of course, beat Spencer in the final. He did a huge amount for the infrastructure of snooker. At 87 years old, he's still a very good golf player who can do a sub 85 round. Phenomenal!
Nice upload, not the most fluent of players Rex, but he was an accomplished player and a great billiards player winning the world title 7 times.
The £4000 high break prize he received here was not to be sniffed at in 1984 either, it was probably more than what he got for qualifying for the 1st round..
Most definitely more
True gentleman quietly nodding to the crowd in appreciation for their applause, golden era of snooker
Pure Class, Absolute Masterful Professional at work here!!! 😃🎯👊💯💯
Jack Karnehm and Jim Meadowcroft providing perfect ASMR on the comm mics
Man, he is so laid back.
Look at 'old' Jimmy, sitting there in his chair, like a young
Albert Steptoe.!
The best era the best characters
rex williams did not have much cue power so always positioned the cue ball in a place where he had plenty of angle
Fantastic. Thanks for uploading.
Rex was a very decent bloke always spoke up for Alex Higgins when he was chairman of the WPBSA and Alex was up in front of the board on disciplinary charges though he was outvoted by other members
When Higgins was 7 - 0 down to Steve Davis after the first session of the UK Championship, Williams gave Higgins a huge pint drink that had 4 or 5 vodkas in it and got him to drink it to basically give him a boost. It worked as he beat David 16 - 15!
Not seen that break before. Very nice.
A gentleman and a beautiful break
Rex in his 50s then is a faster player than jimmy now in his 50s.
Not true, Jimmy white when he makes a century break now even at age 58 still does it a lot quicker than this!
If I remember rightly Rex used to take Beta Blockers ostensibly for a medical condition.But in those days they were used by many sportsmen as they slowed down the heartrate and calmed nerves and shaky hands.But eventually they were banned so Rex was forced to retire as there was no medical exemption for their use which seems a bit harsh.
Think that was the same for John Spencer and Neal Foulds..
@@harrycallahan3391 Bill Werbeniuk calmed his nerves with lots of lager, which was allowed, and still is
@@GenialHarryGrout - Aye, I believe he used it to control a hand tremor he had. Fun fact - Bill was the only person in the world to receive tax relief on his lager consumption.. 🤣🤣🤣
@@harrycallahan3391 apparently Bill Werbeniuk used to get paid to come to snooker clubs just to drink
Bill Werbenuik had the same Lager consumption of Denmark.
One of the old school he was
Well done Rex!
Nice one Mr Rex ❤️👍
Hats off to Rex williams.
Jimmy is watching and learning.
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Does make you wonder how good he was in the 60s
Sadly for Rex he was robbed of what should’ve been his prime years. He won the English Amateur Championship in 1951, aged 17 and turned professional the same year. Joe Davis tipped him as a future World Champion but by 1957 the professional game was dead. He had no choice but to abandon his snooker aspirations at the age of just 24 and go into his father’s printing business.
@@chrisbland6942 Cliff Wilson was similarly denied. By all accounts he was a phenomenal player as a young man, with a lightning fast attacking style of play (still visible in his pro years decades later).
@@LerafoLuap Yes, definitely. Cliff was the big crowd puller at Burroughes Hall in Soho Square, home of the amateur game. He was only 19 when he reached the English Amateur final in 1954. There’s loads of top amateurs from the 50’s and 60’s who were effectively shut out of the professional ranks - Wilson and Pat Houlihan were the outstanding natural talents I suppose, but also Geoff Thompson, Ronnie Gross, Ray Edmonds, Jonathan Barron, Gary and Marcus Owen, not to mention Reardon and Spencer.
Beautiful cueing.
I've seen the footage of Eddie Charlton making the first century break of 110. Correct me if i'm wrong.
That was in pot black in 1973 when Eddie Charlton made that 110 break.
A true gentleman
Textbook technique....great stuff.
show's just how HARD centuries are' You need make 26 balls to score a Ton depending on the color's
Like his cue action.
met Rex once in a rough pub in Sheffield, it was a charity occasion in a place called the Springwood, i believe its closed down now.
Nah it isn't closed down, Sheffield is still open...😂
The springwood where taxis wouldn't pick you up
@@paddyk3079 Soon won't be. After tier 3 kicks in.
Rex was finalist in this competition at least once in the sixties getting beat by John Pullman who was another serial winner.
His signature is on the cue hendry won 7 world titles with 😂
No it ant stop telling lies
@@billybarr7443 two funny
@@billybarr7443 - It certainly is Billy, look it up, a Rex Williams 'Powerglide'.. 😉
Perrie Mans, the first left hander to make the WSC final, never made a hundred break in official competition play! Does anyone recall Cliff Wilson, a terrific one pot player, but not consistent enough. The times that snooker got audiences of 15 million.
@@harry2.01 Cliff Wilson was the O’Sullivan of the 1950’s, packing out every venue he played in with his outrageous potting and quick fire break building. There was no money in the game though so he retired for fifteen years and worked long shifts in a steel works to support his wife and 4 children. It wasn’t until the 70’s that he was persuaded to pick up his cue again. He regained the Welsh title and went on to win the World Amateur title before turning professional. Remarkably, he was ranked in the top 16 at the age of 55 and nearly blind in one eye. He also knocked Ronnie O’Sullivan out of the UK Championship in 1992, aged 58!
"In fact I think he might buy me a drink, tonight!" Was Rex tight with his money, Jack?
You just know Ronnie will be knocking in breaks at this age. What is age really? If you can see and cue straight, you'll do it
Concentration starts to decline with age.
Standard was shit back then.
Was better to watch then. It bores me now
Cousin Ron was still wearing shit catchers then when I first handed him the cue stick.
💖
Anyone would think he just made a 147!
He did make a ratified 147 in Cape Town in 1965
did it win?
it did win the high break prize
@@SuperChalkster - Yep, Rex received £4000 for the highest break..
not marks dad is it?😆
lol 6.99 'tickle the reds'
Pure bore of a player.
What crap you talk
Still, got 15k views so far!
you should know
@@pavarotti744 duhhhhhh
What a crap comment. The players now are boring