Barry Hearn hinted that Mark Williams’ complaints over his eyesight may be mind games heading into the World Snooker Championship final.
Williams is bidding to win his fourth title and become the oldest champion in tournament history.
The 50-year-old will face 28-year-old Zhao Xintong in the two-day final, who thrashed seven-time champion Ronnie O’Sullivan 17-7 in the other semi-final on Friday.
Williams beat world number one Judd Trump in a 17-14 victory at the Crucible to set up the showdown with the Chinese cueist.
He has been struggling with his eyesight and is scheduled to undergo lens replacement surgery next month.
In an interview with TNT, Williams said: [It’s a] good win for me, considering I am half blind. Everything is blurry and it’s getting worse.”
He then joked that his impressive form at the Crucible would be enough reason to cancel his surgery and get his deposit back.
However, Matchroom Sports founder Hearn thinks there could be some mind games involved.
He told talkSPORT: “He is remarkable. He’s also a very dry, very humorous man. When I listen to Mark Williams talk, I’m always thinking, I wonder what he’s really saying. And of course, there’s a lot of mind games out there these days.
“You know, Ronnie will say, oh, I’m terrible and then play like a genius for a few frames. Mark Williams’ eyesight, yeah, okay, let’s put a little bit of attention on that. Don’t read too much into it.
“He’s potting balls. I mean, if he had an eyesight problem, it’s 12 foot that table, it’s a long way away.
“He’s a very, very funny man and he’s got a very, very dry sense of humor. And he’s also a wily old fox. He knows what he’s doing.”
Williams is guaranteed to win at least £200,000, which goes up to £500,000 if he winsGetty Zhao could be the first Chinese player to win the World ChampionshipGettyWilliams won his first world title in 2000 – when Zhao was just three years old – and his most recent in 2018, when he famously conducted his winning press conference naked – apart from a towel – to fulfil a promise made earlier in the tournament.
“It’s unbelievable. Twelve months ago I wasn’t even here. I watched it in a caravan,” Williams said at the time, having contemplated quitting the sport the previous year after losing in the final round of qualifying.
Williams said: “I don’t care now what happens. If I lost 18-0, it’s not the end of the world, not for me.”
“I’m still here, plodding away.
“I’ve not had easy matches. I don’t know what’s left in the tank. We’ll have to see.
“It’d be a great occasion if a Chinese player wins the World Championship. It’d be great for our sport. Just not yet.”
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