'What an idiot' - Mark Williams hits back at Stephen Hendry over World Championship practice views

ByDan Quarrell

Updated 20/04/2022 at 17:32 GMT

"What an idiot," Mark Williams said on Twitter, adding that it was a "load of nonsense" in another reply reacting to Stephen Hendry's comments that Jackson Page should not be practising with his good friend and usual training partner ahead of their World Championship clash at the Crucible. Williams was dismissive of the opinions of his fellow snooker legend in Sheffield.

Mark Williams has responded to fellow snooker legend Stephen Hendry by calling him an "idiot" for his views on him practising with Jackson Page ahead of their match at the World Championship.

The three-time champion at the Crucible is good friends with Page and the pair are training partners, but Hendry did not believe that they should be preparing for their Crucible clash on the same table.

The 47-year-old will take on Page in the last 16 on Thursday, and Hendry recommended that the young player should "stay away” from his next opponent ahead of the encounter.

World Championship

O'Sullivan ready to 'climb the mountain' ahead of Crucible opener with Pang

13/04/2023 at 09:03

When the comments were flagged up on social media, Williams was emphatic in his dismissal of the logic behind them and made his views on the subject abundantly clear.

"What an idiot," he said on Twitter, adding that it was a "load of nonsense" in another reply.

The 20-year-old said of facing Williams that he will attempt to treat his training partner like any other opponent - something that will not be easy.

"Apart from practising together, obviously, we go for food, play golf, have a game of cards, bingo. We have a good laugh - it's been like that for years," he said.

"I'm feeling really confident. Hopefully, I can carry that on. It's just going to be a great buzz. I'm going to enjoy it whatever happens."

• 'Snooker is too boring' - Vafaei 'still friends' with Ronnie despite 'retire' attack

‘Knock me off my perch’ – O’Sullivan dismisses retirement talk

Williams added: "Obviously, I’m going to try my best to beat him and I want to destroy him – there’s no question. I don’t like losing to anybody but, if I am going to lose to anybody and I had to pick, it would be him.

"I’m going try my best to win but if I lose, I will have no problem at all. If it means him getting in the top 64 by beating me, I’m half on his side anyway. We’ve got a few [people] up from the club. It’s going to be interesting to see which side of the balcony some of them are on.

"It’s going to be tough because he’s not just a friend; he’s more like my fourth son, really. He comes to the house; we play cards together with my kids, pizzas, golf, badminton – you name it, we do it together.

"Unless he blanks me for the next two days, I’m assuming we’ll be having something to eat together tonight."

Williams triumphed in the pair's single previous meeting at the 2020 Scottish Open with a 4-1 victory over his friend.

• Djokovic needs to be stronger if he wants to compete at Roland Garros - Corretja

- - -

Stream the 2022 World Championship and more top snooker action live and on-demand on discovery+

World Championship

Who has qualified for World Championship as last 32 line-up is confirmed?

13/04/2023 at 08:48

World Championship

'Good grief, he's missed it' – Watch Brown suffer agonising World Championship exit

12/04/2023 at 22:27

World Championship

Exclusive: ‘I said I'll never worry about snooker ever again’ - Carter on impact of illness

12/04/2023 at 14:12