MARK WILLIAMS has pulled out of the World Seniors Snooker Championship less than a week before it starts.
The three-time world champion, 51, was meant to be the event’s headline star but will be replaced by Nigel Bond at the Crucible next week.
Mark Williams has pulled out of the World Seniors Snooker Championship Credit: Alamy
Nigel Bond will step in to replace the Welsh Potting Machine Credit: PA:Press Association
Williams has not commented publicly on the reason for his withdrawal but complained about the “yips” before being knocked out of the World Championship by Barry Hawkins last weekend.
He has also been mulling surgery to fix his worsening eye sight.
Bond, 60, is a former world finalist and British Open champion who works in as the head coach at ‘s snooker academy.
The World Seniors Snooker Tour wrote on X : “Mark Williams will be replaced in the 2026 World Seniors Snooker Championship by Nigel Bond.
“Bond, from , is a former British Open and Shootout Champion who reached the final of the World Professional Championship in 1995.
“He also is a former winner of the World Seniors Snooker Championship, something he achieved in 2012.
“Since retiring Nigel has been head coach in Riyadh at the Ronnie O’Sullivan Snooker Academy.
“He will face the winner of Craig Steadman or Neal Jones on Friday 8th May.”
Williams has been going back and forth about the lens replacement surgery that could prolong – or ruin – his snooker career.
Whether he has taken the Hawkins defeat as a cue to bite the bullet remains to be seen.
The Welsh Potting Machine said last year: “I have been reading up and talking to people who have had it done and I’ve got to be honest, it is putting me off a bit.
“It has sort of put me under pressure and it is something I am going to have to look more into.”
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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