Frosty reception for Williams in Sheffield

Mark Williams has enjoyed glory nights in the Crucible but this afternoon was an occasion where he had to grin and bear the fury of the Sheffield crowd.

The Welshman’s foul-mouthed criticism of snooker’s flagship venue on the eve of the Betfred.com World Championship angered not only his paymasters but also the paying public, and when Williams walked out to play Liu Chuang his entrance was met with a chorus of booing.