Snooker star Mark Williams confirms plans for major surgery and admits 'it's amazing I can still play'

MARK WILLIAMS has booked lens replacement surgery for June in the hope of prolonging his snooker career.

Over the past six months, Willo’s eyesight has “deteriorated quite badly” and everything he sees is “blurry”, including the balls on the table and scoreboard.

Mark Williams of Wales being interviewed. — Mark Williams is planning on having eye surgeryCredit: Getty

Wales’ three-time world champion is not eyeing another crown just yet, though he believes he can do “some damage to a lot of people” in the competition.

His 70th Crucible match saw him beat China’s Wu Yize 10-8 – there were a few “sneaky” unorthodox break-offs – and there were no problems with his long potting.

But he has decided to have the op, which costs about £4,000 per eye, to correct his vision.

Williams, 50, explained: “I’m seeing about three or four balls at a time. I tried playing with contacts but it’s very difficult. Really uncomfortable.

“I’m booked in on June 12 to get lens replacement. Hopefully, if that goes okay, it could extend my career for another 4-5 years anyway.

“If I don’t do something, I’ll only go down. It won’t get any better. Eventually, I’ll see five balls.

“I’ve lost 9-3 without the contact lens and then lost 10-3 with them in. My coach Lee Walker can choose – and I can blame him then, can’t I?

“I think the operation is only 20-25 minutes.

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“It’s remarkable I can still play. In the last six months, I have noticed they got a lot worse. I have held off for as long as I can.

“I knew the day was coming that I’d have to do something about it. No point trying the big glasses. It’s the same as contacts.

Kyren Wilson rolls his eyes at World Snooker Championship announcer live on BBC as ‘curse’ is instantly brought up

“It would be funny if I did really well here – what do you do then? Cancel it? Lose my deposit?

“I’m short-sighted. But now, after getting tested, I’m long-sighted as well now. I need reading glasses.

“I’m not blind, everything is blurry. Even you, Rob, look quite handsome with my glasses off.

“I always have a pair of glasses in the car as I can’t see the number plate in front of me. Fingers crossed, the thing goes well.

“It was a great game. He’s an unbelievable potter. He has the potential to win this tournament, no question.”

Mark Allen leads Chinese qualifier Fan Zhengyi 5-4 after he rallied from 3-0 down in the first session of their first-round clash.

List of all-time Snooker World Champions

BELOW is a list of snooker World Champions by year.

The record is for the modern era, widely considered as dating from the 1968-69 season, when the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) took control of the sport.

The first World Championships ran from 1927 – with a break from 1941-45 because of World War II and 1958-63 because of a dispute in the sport.

Joe Davis (15), Fred Davis and John Pulman (both 8) were the most successful players during that period.

Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O’Sullivan share the record for the most titles in the modern era, with seven each.