Snooker icon Mark Williams hints he has played last Crucible match after exit

24 April 2024 , 08:48

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Mark Williams is out of this year's World Snooker Championship (Image: Martin Rickett/PA Wire)

Three-time champion Mark Williams has admitted he may have played his final World Snooker Championship match after he was knocked out in the first round by Si Jiahui.

Williams was beaten 10-9 by the 21-year-old, who reached the semi-finals at last year's World Championships, and stated after the game that he might not be back for next year's tournament.

When asked about his future, Williams 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." Williams also hailed Si's performance, branding him a "future world champion" as he prepares to take on Jak Jones in the second round.

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"Si was excellent," he added. "I didn't play very well throughout the match. His break at the end was one of the best you will see. 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?" In response to Williams' praise, Si said: "I'm very happy with these compliments so I have to thank him and it means a lot coming from him. I will do my best but I don't think in my level at the moment I could really do it.

Williams was eliminated by Si Jiahui (George Wood/Getty Images)

"Mark missed a few chances and I went 8-5 ahead. Towards the end I wasn't as calm. I always felt like the challenger, trying to take him down. I'm very happy to beat such a difficult opponent."

Williams is the sixth seeded player to have been knocked out in the first round, with reigning world champion Luca Brecel, Mark Selby, Ali Carter, Gary Wilson and Zhang Anda already eliminated.

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Matthew Cooper