‘I cannot keep coming’ – Mark Williams hints he’s played last World Snooker Championship after shock first-round exit
MARK WILLIAMS may have played his last-ever Crucible contest after losing a final-frame decider with Si Jiahui.
Willo, 49, came from 9-7 down to take it to the 19th frame but Jiahui knocked in a match-winning break of 77.
The Welshman – a three-time world champion – is the SIXTH seed to depart this year’s World Snooker Championship.
He was extremely coy about his future plans for next season, though he will play more Chinese pool and have at least three months of golf.
The world No.6 said: “Who knows what will happen?
“I cannot keep coming to this venue. I am 50 next year. I look around and I have loved every minute of it.
“If I will be back next year, I don’t know. Who knows?
“You cannot keep going on forever. I will miss it. Fingers crossed you will see me play next year but who knows?
“It’s a tough game, and tough to keep getting back to these venues. You have to treat it as if you are not going to get back here.
“Si was excellent. I didn’t play very well throughout the match. His break at the end was one of the best you will see.
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“If he can do those breaks more frequently, then he’s a future world champion, no question. He has the potential to win it. Whether it is this year, who knows?”
Si, 21, made the semi-finals 12 months ago in his rookie campaign but spectacularly collapsed against eventual champion Luca Brecel after going 14-5 up.
The Chinese Pearl could have bottled it again – especially after one missed pink to the middle pocket – but he held his nerve to meet Welshman Jak Jones in round two.