Mark Williams snubbed Snoop Dogg offer to fulfil Welsh Open BBC role | Other | Sport
When it comes to snooker, not even Snoop Dogg himself can tempt Mark Williams away. Williams’ Welsh Open campaign began strongly as he defeated World No. 60 Michael Holt 4-2 in his opening match.
It was a composed performance from the seven-time Triple Crown champion at the Venue Cymru in Llandudno. Shortly after his victory, he sat down with presenter Catrin Heledd in the studio as part of his punditry duties with BBC Wales.
For Williams, he made it abundantly clear there was nowhere else he would rather be – even if he was given the chance to watch Snoop Dogg in a private performance. It’s quite possible the names Snoop Dogg and Mark Williams had never been uttered in the same sentence by anyone on the planet before this interview. The pair hail from vastly different worlds and nations, but their paths nearly crossed.
The American rap icon, whose real name is Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr, recently touched down in Swansea, having spent time in Milan and Cortina for the Winter Olympics. In Wales, he set aside the Team USA kit and exchanged it for a Swansea City beanie hat and hoodie.
On Monday, videos surfaced on social media showing him performing at a private party in an industrial estate on the city’s outskirts. This was where Williams had the chance to groove with the Californian music legend.
He revealed this surprising news during the BBC’s coverage while speaking to BBC presenter Catrin Heledd. She said: “A special thank you to Mark, because you had an invite last night to be somewhere else but you decided to stick with us. Where could you have been yesterday? We’re so glad you’re still with us, Mark.”
He responded: “I had an invite to go to the AU Vodka headquarters in Swansea for a private concert with Snoop Dogg, believe it or not. How random is that? But I had to stay and do the night with Abi (Davies, presenter), so it wasn’t so bad.” Reanne Evans, seemingly surprised by his unusual musical preference, then asked, “Is he on your playlist then?” to which he replied: “He is now, I think!”
Snoop Dogg’s appearance in Swansea is certainly something few would have predicted at the start of 2026. However, his visit isn’t entirely out of the blue. He recently invested in the Swans and will be present at the Swansea.Com Stadium for tonight’s home match against Preston. Every home supporter in attendance will receive a unique ‘Swans x Snoop towel’, waiting for them on their seats.
Ahead of the fixture, the American superstar will be performing a ‘pre-match towel twirl’ in an attempt to boost the atmosphere. When his investment in the club was finalised at the end of January, Snoop Dog told Wales Online: “I want to be real hands-on.
“I want to take the club in a direction maybe it hasn’t been before. We want to take Swansea to the Premier League, and to do that we are going to need money. That’s the reality of the game these days. I want to introduce sponsorship deals and publicity that will make them a global name.”
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