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Mark Williams reveals worrying issue ahead of World Snooker Championship bid - 'I'm frightened to death of it'

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Mark Williams became the oldest winner of a ranking event when he defeated Shaun Murphy 10-3 to claim the Xi'an Grand Prix title in October. The world No. 4 was also the oldest man to compete in a world final when he lost 18-12 to Zhao Xintong at the Crucible last year, but Williams has conceded he has issues with his cue action after his 10-8 defeat to John Higgins at the Tour Championship.

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Video credit: TNT Sports

Mark Williams reached last year's World Championship final playing with a mixture of flair, finesse and old-fashioned grit in dumping Wu Yize, Hossein Vafaei, John Higgins and Judd Trump in a memorable run to the Crucible title match.

Only the exhausting nature of his contests with Higgins (13-12) and Trump (17-14) in particular denied him a realistic shot at a fourth world title as the evergreen 50-year-old cut a jaded figure in losing 18-12 to Zhao Xintong in his bid to become the oldest world champion in history.

But it might be technical issues that will be at the forefront of his mind rather than fading form this time as he prepares for his latest assault on the sport's biggest tournament.

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After losing 10-8 to defending champion John Higgins in the first round of the Tour Championship in Manchester on Tuesday, a match that saw the Welshman level at 8-8 from 7-2 behind, Williams had a theory on why he was struggling to play certain shots.

"Tonight's session was a lot better than this afternoon, which was a bit scrappy," said Williams on Channel 5.

"He made a great break in the last frame, and probably owed me that for the last few close ones we've had.

"I tried, but would probably have rather lost 10-3 as I would have been halfway home.

"Overall, it was a struggle. I enjoyed it, but every time I have to hit the ball below centre with a tiny bit of pace.

"I think I might have the yips coming on because I just can't play them any more. I'm jabbing and anything that needs a little bit of power, I'm frightened to death of it.

"It was something I was fighting all the way through. Not even long. Mid-range with a bit of screw on it, I wasn't getting anywhere near it. Jabbing.

"Like I said, I feel like I have the yips coming on."

'Incredible, amazing, phenomenal!' - Williams beats Higgins in dramatic decider to move into semis

Video credit: TNT Sports

The dreaded yips helped to end the career of seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry, who could not deliver the cue smoothly under pressure before quitting after a 13-2 mauling by fellow Scot Stephen Maguire in the 2012 Crucible quarter-finals.

Hendry tried to mount a comeback via an invitational tour card in 2021, but won only three matches out of 20 before retiring for a second time in 2024.

The mental block has afflicted countless golfers, darts and tennis players, including Bernhard Langer, Eric Bristow and Coco Gauff, with involuntary movements affecting the correct delivery of a putter, cue or serve in a straight line.

"It's got gradually worse for 10 years. I think I need to phone Bernhard Langer to see how he got over the yips because that's what I have," said Hendry after losing 9-6 to Williams in the second round of the 2010 UK Championship.

Williams became the oldest winner of a ranking event at the age of 50 years and 206 days when he defeated Shaun Murphy 10-3 in the Xi'an Grand Prix final last October.

He is in line to be seeded sixth at the Crucible, with the 50th World Championship, live on TNT Sports and HBO Max between April 18-May 4.

"The process should be practice, but I'm not going to touch my cue for a while now," said Williams, who produced breaks of 59, 121, 74, 82, 107 and 62 in defeat to his fellow Class of '92 icon.

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Video credit: TNT Sports

Meanwhile, Higgins was delighted to complete his first win over Williams in a multi-session match since a 17-14 win in the semi-finals of the 2011 World Championship, an event that delivered the last of his four world titles.

"I am delighted to do to Mark what he has done to me in the last few years, making a frame winning break at the end was very pleasing," said Higgins, who finished with a clinical 52 to secure a meeting with Mark Selby, who he defeated 10-8 from 8-5 behind in last year's final.

"It's still extra special to play Mark. It would have been a tough loss having been 7-2 in front. I always knew Mark was going to come back at me.

"It's a great win and I have a day off now then I can get ready for Mark Selby."

Elsewhere, Chris Wakelin reeled off eight straight frames from 6-2 behind to complete a remarkable 10-6 win over Wu Yize, boosted by runs of 84, 62 and 108.

"Once I got back to 6-4 it was game on," said Wakelin after setting up a quarter-final with world champion Zhao Xintong.

"I just believe in myself now, it's a simple as that."