MARK WILLIAMS was left looking awkward ahead of his first match at the World Snooker Championship.
The Welsh Potting Machine was on the receiving end of a joke from Crucible MC Rob Walker.
Walker introduced Williams ahead of his first round match with China’s Si Jiahui on Monday.
The two players met in Sheffield for the first nine frames of their first to 10 encounter.
Ahead of the match, Walker took the chance to highlight the 28-year age gap between Williams and Si.
After welcoming Si, 21, he aimed a light-hearted jibe at 49-year-old Williams.
Walker exclaimed: “His opponent, a player old enough to be his young rival’s dad and boy, oh boy, is he flourishing into his late 40s.”
Williams was left with an awkward smile before raising his eyebrows as the joke was met with laughter from the Crucible crowd.
The joke failed to put him off his stride once the action began, though, as the three-time world champion took the first two frames.
He is looking to claim his first world title since 2018 this month after winning the recent Tour Championship.
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Williams beat Ronnie O’Sullivan in the final to win his 26th career ranking title.
The clash with Si will be completed on Tuesday, with the winner set to face world number 44 Jak Jones in round two later this week.
Jones beat Zhang Anda 10-4 in round one to set up a potential all-Welsh clash with Williams.
Elsewhere, defending champion Luca Brecel was beaten by David Gilbert on Saturday.
Judd Trump is through to round two, though, after getting past Hossein Vafaei.
