MARK WILLIAMS has jokingly thanked pal Lee Walker for ruining Ronnie O’Sullivan’s time on the baize.
Willo, 49, has no qualms with his long-term friend and coach working with his rival on the Road to the Crucible.
Ronnie O’Sullivan has struggled for form in recent tournamentsGetty
Mark Williams has joked Lee Walker (right) is responsible
But the Rocket – who plays Jamie Clarke on Tuesday in the Welsh Open first round – has not exactly had a great start to 2025.
Especially as the Class of 92 star damaged his equipment in a moment of rage and needs a new one for his next appearance.
Asked what Walker could add to O’Sullivan’s game, Wales’ three-time world champion laughed: “Well, he’s doing well with Ronnie at the minute…
“Ronnie’s pulled out of the last five tournaments and snapped his cue.
“It’s all a masterplan to get him out of the way!”
Williams hit three centuries – 101, 100 and 117 – as eliminated Austrian amateur Florian Nuessle from the Llandudno tournament.
Yet the world No.5 says he only decided to play in the tournament the DAY before.
He explained: “I decided on Sunday morning.
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS
“A lot of convincing from Lee Walker. Sunday morning is when I really decided I was coming.
“I was unsure all the way. My wife was saying I should go.
“They are probably right to be honest.
“Because it’s my home tournament. If I’m going to miss one, maybe I’ll miss a different one.
“I have missed a few events already this year. I’m not 100 per cent about Hong Kong yet.
“Just see how it goes. Sometimes you need a break from this game.”
List of all-time Snooker World Champions
BELOW is a list of snooker World Champions by year.
The record is for the modern era, widely considered as dating from the 1968-69 season, when the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) took control of the sport.
The first World Championships ran from 1927 – with a break from 1941-45 because of World War II and 1958-63 because of a dispute in the sport.
Joe Davis (15), Fred Davis and John Pulman (both 8) were the most successful players during that period.
Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O’Sullivan share the record for the most titles in the modern era, with seven each.
1969 – John Spencer
1970 – Ray Reardon
1971 – John Spencer
1972 – Alex Higgins
1973 – Ray Reardon (2)
1974 – Ray Reardon (3)
1975 – Ray Reardon (4)
1976 – Ray Reardon (5)
1977 – John Spencer (2)
1978 – Ray Reardon (6)
1979 – Terry Griffiths
1980 – Cliff Thorburn
1981 – Steve Davis
1982 – Alex Higgins (2)
1983 – Steve Davis (2)
1984 – Steve Davis (3)
1985 – Dennis Taylor
1986 – Joe Johnson
1987 – Steve Davis (4)
1988 – Steve Davis (5)
1989 – Steve Davis (6)
1990 – Stephen Hendry
1991 – John Parrott
1992 – Stephen Hendry (2)
1993 – Stephen Hendry (3)
1994 – Stephen Hendry (4)
1995 – Stephen Hendry (5)
1996 – Stephen Hendry (6)
1997 – Ken Doherty
1998 – John Higgins
1999 – Stephen Hendry (7)
2000 – Mark Williams
2001 – Ronnie O’Sullivan
2002 – Peter Ebdon
2003 – Mark Williams (2)
2004 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (2)
2005 – Shaun Murphy
2006 – Graeme Dott
2007 – John Higgins (2)
2008 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (3)
2009 – John Higgins (3)
2010 – Neil Robertson
2011 – John Higgins (4)
2012 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (4)
2013 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (5)
2014 – Mark Selby
2015 – Stuart Bingham
2016 – Mark Selby (2)
2017 – Mark Selby (3)
2018 – Mark Williams (3)
2019 – Judd Trump
2020 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (6)
2021 – Mark Selby (4)
2022 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (7)
2023 – Luca Brecel
2024 – Kyren Wilson
Most World Titles (modern era)
7 – Stephen Hendry, Ronnie O’Sullivan
6 – Ray Reardon, Steve Davis
4 – John Higgins, Mark Selby
3 – John Spencer, Mark Williams
2 – Alex Higgins
Creator – [#item_custom_dc:creator]
