Mark Williams has revealed he’s QUIT practising snooker – despite remaining in the world’s top five.
The 49-year-old Welsh ace, part of the Class of 92 alongside Scots hero John Higgins and Ronnie O’Sullivan, breezed into the second round of the Welsh Open in Llandudno with a dominant showing against Austrian qualifier Florian Nuessle, and afterwards told the BBC that he no longer spends any time at the practice table. And can’t explain the form that keeps him firmly in with the world’s elite players.
The Welsh Potting Machine said: “I can pot anything, but I can miss anything. The older you get, the eyesight goes a bit. I didn’t think I was going to miss it, but I can miss anything. I felt alright, I’ve been playing some decent stuff all year really. I played well in the Masters and was a bit unfortunate, but overall with my age I can’t ask for much more. I’m playing okay.
“I’m 50 next month and I’m fifth in the rankings. I’d never have thought that, nobody would. I don’t know how, but I am going to keep going. I can’t believe I’m fifth. My aim was to still be in the top 16 when I’m 50, who knows, I could be in the top four when I’m 50 now. It’s unbelievable, I don’t know it’s happening but it is. I’m not practising anything to be honest, but I can’t ask for much more. I’m not practising at all.”
Coach Lee Walker was commentating on the match, and when asked if he should be spending more time on the table Walker responded: “After the way he’s played there I think that no practice is the way to go. It pains me to say it, but he was very good in the match. Very good indeed.”
Asked about the challenges of playing a relatively unknown amateur opponent, Williams added: “I don’t really play the player, never have, I just play the balls. And I know if I don’t play very well then he can beat me no problem. Anyone can beat me, but you should never play the player always play the balls. The hardest part is keeping him in the chair really. You just have to accept that you’ll miss some. When I do I don’t really care about it, you just sit there and get on with it.”