'My mates will be more spewing than me' - Mark Williams takes Masters semi-final defeat to Neil Robertson in good grace

ByAlex Livie

Published 15/01/2022 at 19:39 GMT

Asked by Eurosport if he should have won the game, Williams said: “Could have, should have. It is all part of the game. “If the black goes in on 67, he does not come back to the table. It wobbled, and gave me 25 minutes of pain. I had a couple of half-chances to pot the red but it was getting a bit nervy towards the end."

Mark Williams was in a philosophical mood following his dramatic loss to Neil Robertson in the semi-finals of the Masters.

Williams produced the better snooker for a sizeable portion of the match, and led 4-1 and 5-3.

He was also in command in the final-frame decider, as he knocked in a sizeable break and was arguably a black away from Robertson conceding.

World Championship

'Might get lasagne, but that's about it' – Why O'Sullivan has no appetite for Crucible

15/04/2024 at 07:53

• Robertson feels snooker may never see repeat of epic Williams finish
• Williams plays unbelievable escape against Robertson

The black stayed in the jaws of the bottom left, but Robertson came to the table requiring two snookers.

After a dramatic safety exchange, Robertson got the two snookers he required and cleared the colours to seal victory in one of the most exciting matches in snooker history.

Asked by Eurosport if he should have won the game, Williams said: “Could have, should have. It is all part of the game.

“If the black goes in on 67, he does not come back to the table. It wobbled, and gave me 25 minutes of pain.

“I could have won it. He got a good snooker, but maybe I should have come off two cushions. At least that way, I do not leave him the yellow.

I had a couple of half-chances to pot the red but it was getting a bit nervy towards the end.

“I have no problems with that, I have lost in the semi-finals.

"I played well most of the match. It is easy to say I threw it away at the end, but I don’t see it like that. It was a great match and a great occasion.

“I loved every minute of it. The crowd is fantastic, the arena is fantastic but unfortunately I am not in the final tomorrow.”

'This is incredible snooker' - Robertson beats Williams to reach Masters final

Williams is well known for taking defeats with good grace, and he said it is likely his friends will be feeling worse.

“I have lost a snooker match, that’s all,” he said. “My mates will be more spewing than me, they won’t talk to me all the way home. They will be silent."

- - -

Stream the Masters and other top snooker live and on-demand on discovery+. You can also watch all the action live on eurosport.co.uk.

World Championship

'I don’t want to talk about it' – How O'Sullivan's shock defeat to Brecel haunted snooker GOAT

12/04/2024 at 08:48

World Championship

'I got slaughtered for it' – Robertson on why he was forced to hold O'Sullivan peace talks

12/04/2024 at 13:18

World Championship

White faces uphill battle to keep Crucible dream alive at World Championship qualifying

11/04/2024 at 07:27