Williams Refuses To Black Ball O’Sullivan Over Prize Row

By Graham Thomas

Mark Williams has defended Ronnie O’Sullivan over claims he treated Welsh snooker fans with a lack of respect.

O’Sullivan angered World Snooker chairman Barry Hearn after the five-times world champion passed up the chance of a maximum 147 in the first round of the Welsh Open in Cardiff.

Hearn said it was disrespectful and unacceptable for O’Sullivan to settle for a final pink on Monday – and a 146 – rather than pot the black to earn a £10,000 prize which the player had termed as “too cheap”.

But Wales’ former world champion Williams insisted: “I can’t honestly see why Ronnie is getting so much stick.

“He knocked in a 146 for god’s sake. It was an amazing break.”

O’Sullivan’s decision to pass up the cash prize in his tie against Barry Pinches was the main talking point after the opening round of matches. Arguably, it gave the tournament more publicity than had be completed the maximum.

But it was hardly fresh territory for the Englishman. In 2010 O’Sullivan refused to pot the final black in the final frame of his match at the World Open in Glasgow when he was told there was no bonus prize.

Williams may have been supportive of his rival, but he was less impressed by own display despite reaching the second round after a 4-3 victory China’s Lyu Chenwei to book a meeting with Rod Lawler.

Ronnie O’Sullivan refused to go for a final black.

Williams said: “It felt like I was playing with someone else’s arms.

“That was just poor, very poor. I should be out really. If I play anything like that again I’m out in the next round, so it’s not really going to make that much difference.

“The balls were scrappy, and in a lot of the frames the balls were on the cushion, but overall it was probably one of the worst performances I’ve put in.

“He didn’t play very well either. He was terrible, as well. He potted a few good long balls but he only needed a bit of composure in the last frame towards the end and he definitely would have beaten me.”

Williams reached the semi-finals of the Welsh Open last year, but failed to find anything like that form.

“I can play well at times but I’m always going to throw something like that in, or maybe a couple of games like that, and that’s why I’m not as consistent as I was,” he added.

“I’m not really doing that well. I’m winning the odd match here and there, but overall it’s not great.

“It’s frustrating because I’m playing alright in practice and then I pull out a performance like that.”

Of the other Welshmen competing, Ryan Day, Daniel Wells and Michael White progressed to the second round, but Duane Jones, Lee Walker and Jamie Jones all failed to make it through.