By Samuel Meade
Mark Williams punched his cue and then sat on the step alongside his seat as his anger peaked during the World Snooker Championship.
The former champion has suffered an early exit from the Crucible with his frustration evident against Si Jiahui. Williams went to pot a red in the middle pocket but got his angles wrong and the ball cannoned away from the pocket.
Williams immediately punched his cue, appearing to damage it, before he handed it to a surprised fan in the front row. He then went back to his spot, but rather than sitting down in his allocated seat, opted to perch himself on the step alongside as he watched on.
Jiahui went on to secure a 10-9 victory as he claimed the deciding frame. Williams, who won the tournament in 2000, 2003 and 2018.
The Welshman, who was the fifth seed, led 5-4 in his first-round match against his Chinese opponent after Monday's first session. However Jiahui won four frames in a row to move 8-5 ahead, before Williams pulled two frames back. Si took the next to go 9-7 in front and had a chance to seal the victory before missing a pink to give Williams hope.
However Williams missed a shot on the red which opened the door for Jiahui and he made a match-winning break of 77. Speaking afterwards the three-time champion questioned whether he'd appear at the Crucible again, but wouldn't be retiring.
He said: "I'm 50 next year and I was looking around. I've loved every minute. I don't know if I will be back here again. I'm not considering my future but it's a tough game so to keep getting to these venues is hard, you have to treat it as if you're not going to get back. Fingers crossed you will see me playing next year but I'm 50 [next year] and can't keep going on for ever."
Williams also backed the man who ended his tournament hopes to become China's first world champion. "I didn't play well all the way through the match, but I was playing well at the end," he added.
"That's one of the best breaks you will see under pressure and if he can do that more regularly then he is a future world champion. He definitely has the potential to win the World Championship. Whether it's this year, who knows, it will be tough."
In response, Si said: "I'm very happy with these compliments so I have to thank him and it means a lot coming from him. I will do my best but I don't think in my level at the moment I could really do it."
