Williams’ cautiousness about going underneath the knife suggests he nonetheless has ambitions to proceed on the baize for years to come back – and who can blame him.
Final October, on the age of fifty years and 206 days, he beat the mark set again in 1982 by fellow Welshman Ray Reardon to turn out to be the oldest winner of a rating occasion when he triumphed within the Xi’an Grand Prix.
Even now, having turned 51 final month, he’s ranked sixth on the planet going into the World Championship this weekend.
“After I was 45 I mentioned I would prefer to see the place I’m within the rankings once I’m 50,” Williams recalled.
“I am not retiring, I made that call years in the past. Let’s have a look at the place I’m within the rankings at 55, that’ll be attention-grabbing.”
He might have dominated out retirement however will not be feeling fairly so assured about his probabilities on the Crucible this yr.
“I am nonetheless combating. I am nonetheless making an attempt and that is all I can say,” he mentioned.
“I strive my finest in each event and for those who win, nice, for those who lose, that is not the tip of the world.
“I have been doing this since I used to be an eight-year-old child. My father was happening the mines for 30 years, my grandfather for 50 years.
“I am simply travelling world wide taking part in the silly sport of snooker, getting paid effectively for it and having fun with it. You may’t put an excessive amount of stress on your self.”
