Mark Williams hits out and demands new rule change
Mark Williams has branded the suggestion that seeded snooker players are looked after as "bullcrap". The three-time world champion is one of just two top-16 players to advance past the Northern Ireland Open second round, with Kyren Wilson the other. Defending champion Jack Lisowski went out at that stage after losing 4-1 to Anthony McGill, the same round that Williams' fellow Welshman Jak Jones eliminated John Higgins. However, those two at least won their opening matches, unlike the rest of their seeded contemporaries at this season's seventh ranking event, with Judd Trump and Ronnie O'Sullivan on the wrong end of seven-frame thrillers.
TL;DR
- Mark Williams calls the idea that seeded snooker players are looked after 'bullcrap'.
- He states that qualifiers now pose a significant challenge, making draws difficult for top-16 players.
- Williams believes seeded players earn their positions and are not given advantages.
- He suggests that the current system leads to more upsets among top players.
- Williams will face David Gilbert in the quarter-finals of the Northern Ireland Open.