MARK WILLIAMS plans to “keep on trucking” for as long as possible – and expects to outlast Class of ’92 foes Ronnie O’Sullivan and John Higgins on the snooker table.
That is because the Welsh potting great has accepted he simply will not win as many matches as he used to, now he has reached his 50s and the eyesight is going.
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Between them, the three potting titans have won an incredible 14 World Snooker Championships – and 101 ranking titles.
All of them are in the top-14 spots in the world and still play in the biggest tournaments but they are not as dominant as they once were.
Three-time world champion Williams – his last Crucible success came in 2018 – wants to play the sport for as long as he is physically capable of doing so.
Dubai-based O’Sullivan, 50, has been a Crucible King on a record-equalling seven occasions but he keeps pulling out of events as he stays away from the UK.
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Last month, after he was knocked out of the Wuhan Open, the Rocket said he would give himself 18 months to rescue his snooker career as he manages decline.
Four-time champion of the world Higgins, 51, has an end date in his mind but it is all about how competitive he is on the table.
Williams, 51, anticipates being involved for many more years to come – as he has learned to accept his shortcomings and the fact he will miss easy pots.
He said: “I always try my best. I’m not retiring like the other two have come out and said they are going to finish in a couple of years.
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“I will carry on for as long as it is. I will try to play as many [tournaments] as I can.
“It’s difficult. If you can get off to a good start [in the season], then you can pull out of tournaments.
“I would still play in the amateur game, you don’t have to worry about me.
“The other two, my compadres, will be retired in a couple of years. It’s good news for the rest of them.
“I will carry on even when I go down the rankings, which I will probably do soon. I will keep going. Keep on trucking.
“It’s a bit hard to say the three of us turn up as contenders. We are not. We are not the players we used to be.
“John’s nowhere near as good as he was. Ronnie is a patch on what he used to be.
“I don’t think Ronnie has won a tournament for several years. And chances are, he won’t win another one.
“They have put a time limit on it. I think I have accepted that I’m nowhere near as good as I was. Most of the time I’m going to play terribly and lose.
“I have accepted more than them. They have got such high standards, it’s difficult for them to work out what they miss, and losing matches they would normally win.
“I have accepted a lot easier than them.
“I know I’m going to play badly and miss anything. I could lose to anybody. I could also put in good performances and win.
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“I have accepted that I could miss absolutely anything – and I do. Maybe if the other two take the same step, they won’t give up in a couple of years.
“They will find a new lease of life and still be going when they are 60.”