Mark Williams responds to Rob Walker snooker row after BBC World Championship
Rob Walker has been in charge of announcing players into the Crucible arena at the World Championship, and he has not been afraid to make a few jokes along the route
Mark Williams has spoken about Rob Walker(Image: Sam Bloxham, Getty Images)
Mark Williams has shrugged off criticism of snooker emcee Rob Walker, asserting that his close mate can say whatever he likes. The Welsh icon is well familiar with the man tasked with introducing players into the arena, and there’s been no shortage of playful banter so far at the World Championship.
As he introduced Williams ahead of the opening session of his first-round match against Antoni Kowalski at the Crucible, Walker addressed a crowd and announced: “Finally, to a player whose debut was so long ago, we can barely remember. In 1997, he had a full thatch [of hair] and 20-20 vision.
“The eyesight is going, the hair is long, long gone. But make no mistake, he is one of the all-time greats. Runner-up last year, three-times a champion du monde, the absolute legend. The irrepressible, the irreplaceable, Mark J Williams.”
Before the second session, Walker kept up the jesting, joking: “29 years ago on this very day it was his turn to be the fresh-faced 22-year-old debutant with boyish good looks, a full head of hair and perfect vision. How little has changed in the intervening years!
“He hasn’t been to a barber in decades but lest we forget, he remains one of our all-time greats. Finalist at 49, three times a champion du monde, it wouldn’t be a Worlds without Willo.”
Williams found it amusing, playfully pretending to aim a kick towards Walker’s groin as he walked by, though some social media users weren’t particularly thrilled with Walker’s introductions, who also serves as a BBC commentator at the tournament.
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Nevertheless, the player himself completely dismissed those criticisms as he provided his own version of events after beating the Pole.
Williams remarked: “Yeah, cheeky little…! I liked it when he said, did he say something like, 10 years and not seen a barber? I liked that, that was good. Look, I don’t mind what Rob says.
“He said to me: You don’t get upset, do you? I say: Rob, come on, you can say whatever you want to me, I couldn’t give a monkey’s. Just say what you want. I know I’ll have you tonight.
“I didn’t think he was coming out with that, like! That was a good one. He’s going to have to up that next time now.
“Ah, he can do whatever, he can say whatever he wants. It makes no difference to me. The more stick I get, the more I like it. That’s why I’m on Twitter, for a bit of stick, really.”
When questioned about what might happen should Walker continue escalating things, Williams chuckled: “Well, I don’t know, it’s his fault he started high, ain’t he? A chopsy hit, mind you.”
