Mark Williams hit with fine for Crucible blast

Published on 01/06/2012 00:00

Mark Williams has been punished for his comments condemning the Crucible and saying the Betfred.com World Championship should be moved from Sheffield to China.

The two-times former world champion was fined £3,000 and ordered to pay £1,000 towards the costs of a World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association hearing.

He lashed out on the eve of this year’s tournament, in a Twitter outburst, describing the Sheffield venue as “a shxt hole”.

The 37-year Welshman was ruled to have breached WPBSA guidelines, incurring his second Twitter-related fine of the season, after an earlier rebuke for using foul language.

Williams, world champion in 2000 and 2003, tweeted in April: “WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS just around the corner. Shame it’s 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.”