MARK WILLIAMS LEFT BAFFLED AS SNOOKER REF MAKES BIZARRE ERROR IN SAUDI ARABIA MASTERS

Mark Williams was left bewildered at the Saudi Arabia Masters after referee Leo Scullion re-positioned his cue ball instead of a potted black.

Williams has been in excellent form in the Middle East, making it all the way to the final. He overcame a 4-0 deficit during his opening clash with Thepchaiya Un-Nooh to prevail 5-4, before a dominant 6-2 display against World Championship semi-finalist Stuart Bingham in round two. That set up a meeting with 2018 European Masters champ Jimmy Robertson, against whom Williams started like a train.

Having established a five-frame lead, Williams looked to be in relative control in the sixth. He stepped up to routinely pot a black into the top right pocket, doing so with ease and leaving his cue ball near the cushion with a red set up. Or so he thought. Experienced referee Scullion had other ideas, whisking around the table to pick up Williams's cue ball as it came to a stop in a bizarre moment.

An exclamation from the Welshman saw Scullion realise his error. In a momentary lapse of concentration, the referee mistook the white for black, and instead of reaching into the pocket and placing the black on its spot, he shifted the cue ball across.

Williams could then be heard shouting: "Woah, woah, what are you doing?" Scullion then picked up his head before letting out a disappointed-sounding: "Oh, sorry."

Fortunately for the referee, his blunder didn't affect the outcome of the match. Williams was eventually satisfied with where the white ball was returned to and continued with the tie.

The Welsh icon ultimately cruised to a 6-0 victory over his opponent, with no harm done. Williams then saw off Chinese phenom Si Jiahui – who knocked out Ronnie O'Sullivan earlier in the week – in the semi-final, to set up a showpiece match against Judd Trump, with the winner taking home £500,000.

Trump clinched five ranking titles last year in what was one his most successful season since his Crucible success in 2019. World number nine Williams is yet to win a title this season but is the current British Open and Tour Championship holder.

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2024-09-07T13:59:17Z dg43tfdfdgfd