'I was having breakfast in a Wetherspoons' - Mark Williams opens up on 11-hour day trip to Hong Kong Masters
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Updated 18/10/2022 at 06:31 GMT
Mark Williams is in action at the Northern Ireland Open in Belfast, and beat Alexander Ursenbacher on Monday evening to reach the third round. But a couple of weeks ago he went on a day trip after answering an SOS to compete at the Hong Kong Masters. The Home Nations series is back with the Northern Ireland Open and it is live and exclusive on discovery+.
‘I was having breakfast in Wetherspoons the day before’ – Williams on spending 11 hours in Hong Kong
Mark Williams has expanded on his whirlwind trip to Asia for the Hong Kong Masters, saying he was in the city for 11 hours.
The Hong Kong Masters was the return of international snooker in Asia following the Covid-19 pandemic, but the schedule was thrown into turmoil when Zhao Xintong was forced to withdraw due to a positive coronavirus test.
Williams was summoned from South Wales, and revealed he was blissfully unaware of the situation until receiving a phone call the day before the event was due to take place.
Speaking to Eurosport about his trip and loss to Neil Robertson, Williams said: “Anyone who suggested a day trip to Hong Kong, it is too far.
“I was there for about 10, 11 hours. I arrived at my hotel at about 11. They picked me up at 11:45, took me to the venue. Played, lost. Back to the hotel about 6:30. Picked me up at 7 and back in the airport at 7:50.
“I played alright to be fair.
“It was just one of those phone calls. I was having breakfast in a Wetherspoons and all of a sudden I am in Hong Kong the next day.”
Williams was well compensated for his day out, and he would not have even contemplated it but for the sizeable cheque.
“£22,500, I would never have gone if it was not for that money,” he said. “I knew I could not win, I knew I was going to lose to Neil Robertson, I had no problem with that. I picked up my £22,500, came home, see you later.”
Williams is in action at the Northern Ireland Open and beat Alexander Ursenbacher on Monday evening to reach the third round.
Earlier in the week, he unveiled the start of his acting career - after posting a clip of a series he was handed a cameo on.
“(Steven) Spielberg was on the phone last night,” Williams quipped. “The Tuckers. You need to watch it. I have a little cameo. It was good.
“Steve Spiers, we get on, and he asked me to do a little cameo. You can’t turn him down. It was good fun.”
Williams suggested he took to it immediately, although admitted it was more nerve-racking than the day job.
”I think I was called one-take Willo all the time,” Williams said. “I did not have many words, but did not mess it up. We messed up a few times laughing and joking but it was good fun.
“It was horrible. I don’t have many words, but you have got to remember them and I was so far out of my comfort zone.”
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The Home Nations series is back with the Northern Ireland Open and it is live and exclusive on discovery+. You can also watch Seventh Heaven, a two-part show about Ronnie O’Sullivan’s historic World Championship win last season, on demand now.
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