MARK WILLIAMS has booked lens alternative surgical procedure for June within the hope of prolonging his snooker profession.
Over the previous six months, Willo’s eyesight has “deteriorated fairly badly” and all the pieces he sees is “blurry”, together with the balls on the desk and scoreboard.
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Wales’ three-time world champion is just not eyeing one other crown simply but, although he believes he can do “some harm to lots of people” within the competitors.
His seventieth Crucible match noticed him beat China’s Wu Yize 10-8 – there have been a number of “sneaky” unorthodox break-offs – and there have been no issues together with his lengthy potting.
However he has determined to have the op, which prices about £4,000 per eye, to right his imaginative and prescient.
Williams, 50, defined: “I’m seeing about three or 4 balls at a time. I attempted taking part in with contacts but it surely’s very troublesome. Actually uncomfortable.
“I’m booked in on June 12 to get lens alternative. Hopefully, if that goes okay, it might prolong my profession for an additional 4-5 years anyway.
“If I don’t do one thing, I’ll solely go down. It received’t get any higher. Ultimately, I’ll see 5 balls.
“I’ve misplaced 9-3 with out the contact lens after which misplaced 10-3 with them in. My coach Lee Walker can select – and I can blame him then, can’t I?
“I feel the operation is simply 20-25 minutes.
“It’s exceptional I can nonetheless play. Within the final six months, I’ve seen they acquired quite a bit worse. I’ve held off for so long as I can.
“I knew the day was coming that I’d need to do one thing about it. No level making an attempt the large glasses. It’s the identical as contacts.
“It could be humorous if I did very well right here – what do you do then? Cancel it? Lose my deposit?
“I’m short-sighted. However now, after getting examined, I’m long-sighted as nicely now. I want studying glasses.
“I’m not blind, all the pieces is blurry. Even you, Rob, look fairly good-looking with my glasses off.
“I at all times have a pair of glasses within the automotive as I can’t see the quantity plate in entrance of me. Fingers crossed, the factor goes nicely.
“It was an ideal recreation. He’s an unbelievable potter. He has the potential to win this match, no query.”
Mark Allen leads Chinese language qualifier Fan Zhengyi 5-4 after he rallied from 3-0 down within the first session of their first-round conflict.
Listing of all-time Snooker World Champions
BELOW is an inventory of snooker World Champions by 12 months.
The document is for the trendy period, broadly thought-about as courting from the 1968-69 season, when the World Skilled Billiards and Snooker Affiliation (WPBSA) took management of the game.
The primary World Championships ran from 1927 – with a break from 1941-45 due to World Battle II and 1958-63 due to a dispute within the sport.
Joe Davis (15), Fred Davis and John Pulman (each 8) had been probably the most profitable gamers throughout that interval.
Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O’Sullivan share the document for the most titles within the trendy period, with seven every.
- 1969 – John Spencer
- 1970 – Ray Reardon
- 1971 – John Spencer
- 1972 – Alex Higgins
- 1973 – Ray Reardon (2)
- 1974 – Ray Reardon (3)
- 1975 – Ray Reardon (4)
- 1976 – Ray Reardon (5)
- 1977 – John Spencer (2)
- 1978 – Ray Reardon (6)
- 1979 – Terry Griffiths
- 1980 – Cliff Thorburn
- 1981 – Steve Davis
- 1982 – Alex Higgins (2)
- 1983 – Steve Davis (2)
- 1984 – Steve Davis (3)
- 1985 – Dennis Taylor
- 1986 – Joe Johnson
- 1987 – Steve Davis (4)
- 1988 – Steve Davis (5)
- 1989 – Steve Davis (6)
- 1990 – Stephen Hendry
- 1991 – John Parrott
- 1992 – Stephen Hendry (2)
- 1993 – Stephen Hendry (3)
- 1994 – Stephen Hendry (4)
- 1995 – Stephen Hendry (5)
- 1996 – Stephen Hendry (6)
- 1997 – Ken Doherty
- 1998 – John Higgins
- 1999 – Stephen Hendry (7)
- 2000 – Mark Williams
- 2001 – Ronnie O’Sullivan
- 2002 – Peter Ebdon
- 2003 – Mark Williams (2)
- 2004 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (2)
- 2005 – Shaun Murphy
- 2006 – Graeme Dott
- 2007 – John Higgins (2)
- 2008 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (3)
- 2009 – John Higgins (3)
- 2010 – Neil Robertson
- 2011 – John Higgins (4)
- 2012 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (4)
- 2013 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (5)
- 2014 – Mark Selby
- 2015 – Stuart Bingham
- 2016 – Mark Selby (2)
- 2017 – Mark Selby (3)
- 2018 – Mark Williams (3)
- 2019 – Judd Trump
- 2020 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (6)
- 2021 – Mark Selby (4)
- 2022 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (7)
- 2023 – Luca Brecel
- 2024 – Kyren Wilson
Most World Titles (trendy period)
- 7 – Stephen Hendry, Ronnie O’Sullivan
- 6 – Ray Reardon, Steve Davis
- 4 – John Higgins, Mark Selby
- 3 – John Spencer, Mark Williams
- 2 – Alex Higgins
