Williams in trouble after Crucible comment

Mark Williams risks a rap from snooker chiefs after condemning the Crucible and saying the Betfred.com World Championship should be moved from Sheffield to China.

The two-time former world champion lashed out on the eve of the tournament, which begins today, in a Twitter outburst, describing the Sheffield venue as “a shxt hole”.

Williams’ remarks were being assessed by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association last night to determine whether he had breached guidelines, and the 37-year-old could be facing his second Twitter-related fine of the season, after an earlier rebuke for using foul language.

Welshman Williams was world champion in 2000 and 2003, and acknowledged he was “in trouble” for his remarks, which began with him writing: “WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS just around the corner. shame its played in the crucible, shxt hole, hopefully it will be in china soon.”

The world number four then responded to a follower who pointed out the history of the venue, which is contracted, via Sheffield City Council, to stage the tournament through to 2015.

Williams wrote: “sheffield is a nice place, the crucible is a shxt hole. £hate it”.

Knowing his comments could spark disciplinary procedures, he added wryly: “its only my opinion about the crucible WSA [World Snooker] so dont send me any letters or fines. £lotsoflovewillo.”

Minutes later, he wrote: “wow im in trouble for my last tweet about the crucible.”

He added: “world snooker been on the phone. not sure if its cause i nearly swore, or said i hate playing at the crucible, or want the world champs to go to china.”

Williams looked to play down his comments in later messages but the damage had been done.

World Snooker chairman Barry Hearn responded by lauding the Crucible, home to the World Championship since 1977.

Hearn said in a statement: “We’ve had fantastic support from Sheffield City Council, Welcome to Yorkshire and the BBC, and as long as that continues I’d be happy to keep the event at the Crucible until the day I die.

“There is so much history associated with the Crucible. It is synonymous with snooker and the World Championship. There’s something unique and magical about the atmosphere in the arena which couldn’t be replicated anywhere else. The vast majority of people involved in snooker would say the same.”

China is hosting a growing number of ranking events and has experienced a major boom in snooker interest. Ding Junhui heads a contingent from the country in the World Championship this year, with last year’s semi-finalist joined by Cao Yupeng, Liang Wenbo and Liu Chuang in the draw.

Williams is due to play Liu in the first round in Sheffield, in a match beginning on Wednesday.