Mark Williams prepared to limit snooker schedule and admits he might skip beloved Welsh Open
MARK WILLIAMS might skip next month’s Welsh Open as he limits his playing schedule this year.
Wilo, 49, is the only Welshman to lift the Ray Reardon Trophy but that was back in 1996 and 1999.
The annual Home Series event, held in Llandudno, takes place the week commencing February 10 but the three-time world champion has a tough decision to make.
The world No.6 explained: “I’ve missed a few tournaments this season and I’ll probably miss a couple more.
“I’m just going to chill out and see what’s next.
“I’m not 100 per cent sure if I’m going to play in the Welsh Open this year yet. I’ve not made my mind up.
“There’s the Players Championship, the top-32 event. I’m not sure if I’ll play that one either because it’s the big Chinese 8-ball event, which is on the same dates.
“I’ve got to decide which one I’m going to go to. That’s something else for me to think about.
“I don’t want to play too much. I’m not saying I am going to miss the Welsh but I haven’t decided yet.
“I can’t play in them all. One, it’s my age. Two, it’s my eyesight. And three I’m not good enough to play in them all. You need to have a few comps off.”
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS
Images of Williams using an oxygen canister to cope with high altitude at a recent snooker exhibition in Tibet – which has an average elevation of more than 4,000 metres – went viral.
Williams found he was getting messages from concerned pals, asking if he was okay and not in dire need.
He responded: “You have to have it. I put a few tweets up saying you need it and then Welsh news put it on like I was ill or dying.
“I’ve had everyone texting me asking if I’m all right. Read everything I put up, not just one picture.
“If you don’t have it you aren’t going to survive because the oxygen’s really low there.”