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Former winner Mark Williams has caused a storm on the eve of the World Snooker Championship by describing Sheffield's Crucible Theatre as a "s*** hole" saying he would prefer to see the tournament moved to China.
The Welshman tweeted: "WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS just around the corner. Shame it's played in the Crucible, s*** hole, hopefully it will be in China soon."
Williams also said he would "rather play in Pontins" and that the Crucible was "over hyped" although he did say he had no problem with Sheffield which he called a "nice place."
Despite saying "It's only my opinion….so don't send me any letters or fines," Williams - winner of the World Championship in 2000 and 2003 at the Crucible - admitted he had caused a stir.
"Wow I'm in trouble for my last tweet about the Crucible, people from the paper and world snooker been on the phone," he tweeted just over an hour after his original tweet.
"Not sure if it's cause I nearly swore, or said I hate playing at the Crucible, or want the world champs to go to china."
The Welshman tweeted: "WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS just around the corner. Shame it's played in the Crucible, s*** hole, hopefully it will be in China soon."
Williams also said he would "rather play in Pontins" and that the Crucible was "over hyped" although he did say he had no problem with Sheffield which he called a "nice place."
Despite saying "It's only my opinion….so don't send me any letters or fines," Williams - winner of the World Championship in 2000 and 2003 at the Crucible - admitted he had caused a stir.
"Wow I'm in trouble for my last tweet about the Crucible, people from the paper and world snooker been on the phone," he tweeted just over an hour after his original tweet.
"Not sure if it's cause I nearly swore, or said I hate playing at the Crucible, or want the world champs to go to china."
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What a legend 
his twitter is hilarious.
Surprised the media haven't taken advantage of dozens of his tweets, it's only because it's world championship time that this one has hit the headlines
his twitter is hilarious.Surprised the media haven't taken advantage of dozens of his tweets, it's only because it's world championship time that this one has hit the headlines
"if ur putting it in the paper @senornunes can u get my sponsor logo in ronskinner&sons in, he said he will pay my £250 fine then. #thanks"
personally I think the man is a p rick,there's something about him I never liked,saying that can see him having a good tournament,has been back to his best last couple yrs and could easily be hiding in the long grass,his odds are too big no matter what way ya look at it
His game looks on the slide and after his collapse against Higgins in last seasons uk there has been a hint of fear in his game so opposable in every match he plays.
A true great of the game.
A true great of the game.
I backed him last year & was going great even in the semis against Higgins. Was playing far better snooker & then fell apart a bit as you say. i thought he was mentally tougher than that. Also he had a bit of a laff after that match saying he'd be OK after sinking his 3rd Boddingtons, I probably read too much into it but thought at the time is he really that bothered.
To a lesser degree he let hids feelings be known about the crucible last year, so nothing new, just a bit more scathing in his attack this time
To a lesser degree he let hids feelings be known about the crucible last year, so nothing new, just a bit more scathing in his attack this time
Like a lot of sports people, has retained the mental and emotional age of a 14 year old. Pathetic comments. No class whatsoever.
He is on the wind up??.
Im not a great fan,tries to win a frame by making a couple of 30 breaks.
1 had £4500 on Higgins to beat him in that UK final that he thought he had won. Higgins needed snookers to keep the game alive.
Higgins came back from the brink about 5 times in that match.
The fact that Williams was the man on the receiving end made it all the sweeter.
Im not a great fan,tries to win a frame by making a couple of 30 breaks.
1 had £4500 on Higgins to beat him in that UK final that he thought he had won. Higgins needed snookers to keep the game alive.
Higgins came back from the brink about 5 times in that match.
The fact that Williams was the man on the receiving end made it all the sweeter.
that was a nice bet aberdonia,lord knows what was matched inrunning that night,who is your tip for Sheffield?I would have taught youre more a racing woman
always loses to ronnie out 2nd round.
knows ronnie hates china lol
knows ronnie hates china lol
god you haters,there was nothing wrong with Marks statement he and many players hate the crucible it is small and cramped
this game is massive in other countries and they would put this tourny on a massive stage, in china these players are as big as footballers here in europe why should they not want to take a great tourny and play in front of a billion audience.
this game is massive in other countries and they would put this tourny on a massive stage, in china these players are as big as footballers here in europe why should they not want to take a great tourny and play in front of a billion audience.
A billion people would not watch the World Snooker in China, it's absolute b0ll0cks. There aren't even a billion people in China with access to a TV, and it's not as if the majority of those that do have an interest in snooker. Like when Crystal Palace had a couple of Chinese players (Sun Jihai and Fan Zhiyi, I think) apparently hundreds of millions of Chinese people would be watching. Or when they say every year 600m watch the Grand National around the world or the most ludicrous, the claim that 2 billion people watch the Oscars. It's all bullshit, all these viewing figures are just hype. Why should the tournament leave the Crucible?
because a lot of players don't like it there elgreco, why should it stay there when there may be a lot better venues?? as for williams, nothing wrong with his comments, a lot of people getting butt hurt about them for no reason
I think snooker would be crazy to move from sheffield and after watching both the china tournaments this year and seeing all the empty seats the argument for bigger venues is a complete nonsense.
The eighties was snookers hey day and many many times I sat watching matches with less than 50 people there, once or twice with less than 10.
Snooker is a tv sport and always will be and the vast majority of its loyal fans are middle aged and older.
Youngsters have better things to do so lets not get carried away and be careful with what we wish for.
If snooker left sheffield the first thing they would do is change and drastically shorten the format and the players would be wearing funny hats and pool would be more interesting.
The eighties was snookers hey day and many many times I sat watching matches with less than 50 people there, once or twice with less than 10.
Snooker is a tv sport and always will be and the vast majority of its loyal fans are middle aged and older.
Youngsters have better things to do so lets not get carried away and be careful with what we wish for.
If snooker left sheffield the first thing they would do is change and drastically shorten the format and the players would be wearing funny hats and pool would be more interesting.
the china stuff is all myth, watch the comps from china on eurosport and most of the time the crowd is not greater than 2 dozen
This non-liking of the crucible has taken me aback.
For years the players and comms have been saying the atmosphere there is the best
and how much the players enjoy it.
How many players feel this way? 10%, 20%, 60%?
I've always felt safe that it would stay at the crucible because the players would want it to, but now I'm not so sure.
For years the players and comms have been saying the atmosphere there is the best
and how much the players enjoy it.
How many players feel this way? 10%, 20%, 60%?
I've always felt safe that it would stay at the crucible because the players would want it to, but now I'm not so sure.
crowd in china have no manners,that would have to change if it ever went to china
Mark J Williams needs to remember that all the greatest players have had to cope with the unique Crucible atmosphere and conditions. The guy is a bit of a idiot to say it how he did. It is not a sh1thole as he says and the lack of respect he has shown is infantile. Taking the event to China would do nothing for the historical core of the event. The Crucible has created the greatest moments in the sports history. Williams is entitled to his opinion but there is a professional way to express it.
Actually Mark J Williams is a double chinned monkey. I hope reads this reads this, i love your dopey expression by the way.
Berlin and Belgium were best, they deserve hosting the World championships.
Leave the fudding event alone. Berlin and Belgium have their own events.
Seems like a ****, the way he acted after losing Shanghai was pathetic
what did he do Don? I'm out the loop a bit on snooker nowadays.
Look on youtube, Selby got out of a snooker by it wasn't clear if he hit the red or pink first. Impossible to tell real time as it was hit so hard, after closely looking at the reply it wasn't a foul imo yet Williams acted like it was a blatantly obvious one and it cost him the title. I think at one point Selby and the ref agreed to call it a foul as Williams was so certain but he didn't accept it and then only moans after he lost
Coincidentally, Don, rather like Mark Allen's erroneous assumption yesterday, Mark Williams was also mistaken in thinking that particular shot was a foul. It wasn't a foul. One can tell by studying the path of the cueball post collision(s).
However, as you say, to claim anything was "blatantly obvious" in those circumstances is ridiculous.
However, as you say, to claim anything was "blatantly obvious" in those circumstances is ridiculous.
Dont agree with what he said, but at the end of the day he's a veteran that won all there is to be won in the game and can say what he likes imo
compared to a young tw@t like Mark Allen
compared to a young tw@t like Mark Allen
The sad thing is that neither of them can say what they like any more thanks to Barry Hearn's gagging clauses in the new contracts.
I don't know if there was any cheating in Allen's match and I personally don't like how he conducts himself off the table, but its a poor state of affairs if a player can no longer voice the opinion that he has been wronged in some way.
The cheats, match fixers and dodgy gambling syndicates must be rubbing their hands together at the state of snooker right now.
I don't know if there was any cheating in Allen's match and I personally don't like how he conducts himself off the table, but its a poor state of affairs if a player can no longer voice the opinion that he has been wronged in some way.
The cheats, match fixers and dodgy gambling syndicates must be rubbing their hands together at the state of snooker right now.
Don't think it was the fact that he voiced his opinion. You're right that expression is important but I think it was the generalization of millions of Chinese players and the intimation that it was a culural habit that was offensive.
I agree with you on Allen, but who was really offended by Williams' comments about the Crucible ?
The problem is that Barry Hearn is tarring anyone who speaks their mind with the same brush and introducing Draconian clauses into the contacts to silence them. He even discussed Allen and Williams in the same breath, branding both scenarios "unacceptable to World Snooker" and threatening that "the very sternest disciplinary action will be taken against both players".
I just fear that the culture of silence and secrecy that he seems to be promoting will allow cheating and match fixing to thrive. Who is really going to stick their head above the parapet if they notice something untoward in their match, if they themselves are likely to get banned for raising the issue ?
The problem is that Barry Hearn is tarring anyone who speaks their mind with the same brush and introducing Draconian clauses into the contacts to silence them. He even discussed Allen and Williams in the same breath, branding both scenarios "unacceptable to World Snooker" and threatening that "the very sternest disciplinary action will be taken against both players".
I just fear that the culture of silence and secrecy that he seems to be promoting will allow cheating and match fixing to thrive. Who is really going to stick their head above the parapet if they notice something untoward in their match, if they themselves are likely to get banned for raising the issue ?
I like Williams personally, saying he doesn't like the venue is hardly a hanging offence is it?
It's just his opinion and last time I checked that is something he is entitled to. Compare that to that complete and utter berkely Higgins, I was completely devastated when he won last year, he should have got a lifetime ban for what he did.
It's just his opinion and last time I checked that is something he is entitled to. Compare that to that complete and utter berkely Higgins, I was completely devastated when he won last year, he should have got a lifetime ban for what he did.
Exactly, Higgins should have been banned from the sport. Have no respect for him at all. And who is Hearn to criticise Allen for the 'slant' of his comments. You can't decide someone is guilty of something from the intuition of what theyre saying, just from what they have said. Hearn seems to be a bit of a dimwit himself, and is quite happy to criticise the players personally. Surely he should have something in his contract to shut him up too?
Does Williams still post on here? I had a falling out with him a couple of years back as i was convinced the tables were playing easier as even Williams was finding some form. He began to bite.
Taken from The Sun, yet still amusing:
Williams’ welcome in Sheffield was going from bad to worse last night.
The two-time champion was booed during his 10-6 first-round triumph against Chinese qualifier Liu Chuang after calling The Crucible a “s***hole” on Twitter and suggesting the tournament should be moved to the Far East.
And yesterday he feared having to spend the night in a van after forgetting to book a hotel.
Williams, 37, said: “I have tried about six already and been told they are full — there is no room at the inn.
“At this rate I’ll be sleeping on a park bench or in a van before the big one against Ronnie.”
Williams’ welcome in Sheffield was going from bad to worse last night.
The two-time champion was booed during his 10-6 first-round triumph against Chinese qualifier Liu Chuang after calling The Crucible a “s***hole” on Twitter and suggesting the tournament should be moved to the Far East.
And yesterday he feared having to spend the night in a van after forgetting to book a hotel.
Williams, 37, said: “I have tried about six already and been told they are full — there is no room at the inn.
“At this rate I’ll be sleeping on a park bench or in a van before the big one against Ronnie.”
he must be on a wind up. where has he been sleeping/staying up until now?
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