Stephen Williams (bowler)

{{Short description|Welsh short mat bowls player (born 1973)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

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| worlds = 4 Championships (2002, 2004, 2010, 2012){{Cite web |title=Singles - worldshortmatbowls |work=worldshortmatbowls.org |access-date=28 January 2019 |url=http://www.worldshortmatbowls.org/singles/4592088426 |quote=S. Williams (Wales) 2012 S. Williams |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180903033848/http://worldshortmatbowls.org/singles/4592088426 |archive-date=2018-09-03 |url-status=live }}

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Stephen Williams (born 3 August 1973) is a Welsh short mat bowls player, and four time singles world champion. Williams won the championship in consecutive tournaments in 2002, and 2004, and then again in 2010 and 2012. Williams has also won the world triples championship in 1994.{{Cite web |title=World Short Mat Bowls Championship 2018 |work=bowlswales.com |access-date=28 January 2019 |url=https://bowlswales.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/WSMBA-World-Championships-2018.pdf}}{{Cite web |title=Triples - worldshortmatbowls |work=worldshortmatbowls.org |access-date=28 January 2019 |url=http://www.worldshortmatbowls.org/triples/4592088428 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180903044035/http://worldshortmatbowls.org/triples/4592088428 |archive-date=2018-09-03 |url-status=live}} Williams is also a multiple time national champion; and British Isles champion.

Williams is also a three-time singles winner of events at the Short mat players tour, first winning the 2015 English Masters, defeating Paul Bax 12–7 in the final{{Cite web |title=Tournamentsoftware.com - English Masters 2015 - Matches |work=tournamentsoftware.com |access-date=28 January 2019 |url=http://www.tournamentsoftware.com/sport/matches.aspx?id=E2C79CFC-0C72-451E-ABDB-C54A3886E983}} and also winning the 2019 British Open, defeating Devon's Benny Bass in the final 10–9.{{Cite web|title=Devon County Short Mat Bowls|work=devonshortmat.co.uk|access-date=28 January 2019|url=http://www.devonshortmat.co.uk/news.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180901095704/http://devonshortmat.co.uk/news.html|archive-date=2018-09-01|url-status=live}}{{Cite web |title=LIVE: Verdemat Bowls British Open 2019 |work=Short Mat Players Tour |date=12 January 2019 |access-date=28 January 2019 |url=https://shortmatplayerstour.com/live-verdemat-bowls-british-open-2019-004523/}} Williams would win the very next event, the 2019 English Masters, with a 12–10 win in the final over Sean Hughes.

Williams has also won the Welsh Grand Prix 2 Bowl Pairs, in 2018, with partner Johnathan Payne, having been runner up the year before.{{Cite web |title=Past Tournaments - Short Mat Players Tour |work=Short Mat Players Tour |access-date=28 January 2019 |url=https://shortmatplayerstour.com/tournaments/past-tournaments/ |quote=Welsh Grand Prix 2 Bowl Pairs |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180828085920/https://shortmatplayerstour.com/tournaments/past-tournaments/ |archive-date=2018-08-28 |url-status=live}}

In 2012, Williams defeated Alex Marshall in the "champion of champion" series,{{Cite web |title=Alex Marshall in duel to find the ultimate short mat bowls champion |last=Goldsmith |first=Selwyn |work=Eastern Daily Press |access-date=28 January 2019 |url=https://www.edp24.co.uk/sport/alex-marshall-in-duel-to-find-the-ultimate-short-mat-bowls-champion-1-1371793 |quote=}} as the reigning world champion.{{Cite web|title=:: Henselite - Leaders in lawn bowls, clothing and accessories worldwide ::|work=henselite.com.au|access-date=28 January 2019|url=http://www.henselite.com.au/news/general/viiw-the-greengauge-champion-of-champions-challenge-online |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180316124744/http://henselite.com.au/news/general/viiw-the-greengauge-champion-of-champions-challenge-online|archive-date=2018-03-16|url-status=live}} He defeated Marshall in a 7 end match, 6–4.{{Cite web |title=World bowls great Alex Marshall is held by domestic rivals |work=Eastern Daily Press |access-date=28 January 2019 |url=https://www.edp24.co.uk/sport/world-bowls-great-alex-marshall-is-held-by-domestic-rivals-1-1407926 |quote=}}{{Cite web |title=Greenguage Sports - BowlsChat |work=bowlschat.com |access-date=28 January 2019 |url=https://www.bowlschat.com/videos/short-mat-bowls/greenguage-sports}}