Three-time world champ Mark admits his appetite has gone
Triple world champion Mark Williams has revealed he’s not prepared to put in the hard graft to win another Crucible crown.
The Welshman stunned Scot John Higgins to pocket snooker’s greatest prize in 2018.
But on the eve of this year’s famous World Championship, Williams admitted he’s lost the appetite to pull off another shock. “The work that I put in to do what I did in 2018 – and the practice I put in – I’m just not prepared to do that anymore,” stressed Williams.
“I’m not prepared to practise six or seven hours a day, even if there’s possibly a world title at the end of it.
“I’m just not prepared to sacrifice the time you need to put in to win tournaments. I’ve accepted that.” Amazingly Williams’ third Crucible title came after a staggering 15-year gap.
And the 46-year-old left-hander famously paraded the trophy wearing just a towel around his waist after
stunning the snooker world.
“I just play for enjoyment and to try to win as much money as I can,” added the Cwm potter.
“I’ve got nothing to prove to anyone anymore. Winning that world title in 2018 must have proved all the doubters wrong.” Defending champion Ronnie O’sullivan is once again the man to beat as he guns to equal Stephen Hendry’s record of seven Crucible titles. The Rocket roared to his sixth triumph on snooker’s grandest stage last season, benefiting from hardly any fans at the venue due to Covid restrictions.
But runaway world No. 1, Judd Trump, who has won a string of titles this season, will want a say as he looks to become a multiple world champion next month.