Former world snooker champion Mark Williams’ future has been thrown into doubt after he made a worrying admission on the Tour Championship.
Mark Williams made a worrying admission after his Tour Championship exit (Picture: Getty Photographs)
Welsh snooker star Mark Williams has admitted he’s “frightened to dying” amid fears he could also be growing the yips. The 51-year-old bowed out of the Tour Championship on Tuesday after struggling a 10-8 defeat by the hands of long-standing rival John Higgins.
Williams delivered a gutsy show regardless of surrendering seven consecutive frames early within the match. He battled again to degree with Higgins, just for the deficit to finally show insurmountable. Nonetheless, maybe extra alarming than something witnessed on the desk had been Williams’ remarks afterwards, which might sign the start of the tip of his profession after hinting at a bout of the yips. “Tonight’s session was so much higher than this afternoon, which was a bit scrappy,” he advised Channel 5. “He made an incredible break within the final body, and possibly owed me that for the previous few shut ones we have had.
“I attempted, however would in all probability have relatively misplaced 10-3 as I might have been midway dwelling. General, it was a wrestle. I loved it, however each time I’ve to hit the ball under centre with a tiny little bit of tempo.
“I believe I may need the yips approaching, as a result of I simply can’t play them any extra. I am jabbing and something that wants a bit little bit of energy, I am frightened to dying of it.
Any suggestion of a disaster in confidence from Williams is especially uncharacteristic. The veteran’s cool-headed manner has lengthy been a defining characteristic of his sport, with the Welshman insisting he felt “not a little bit of nerves” when he secured his historic 13-12 victory over Higgins on the Crucible final 12 months.
Seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry introduced his personal profession to a detailed after he started to wrestle with the yips. Williams has mentioned he is “not going to the touch his cue for some time,” with followers throughout the globe hoping he’ll return to Sheffield this month as he units his sights on one other World Championship last.
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