Mark Williams puts ref in awkward spot at World Snooker Championship in unusual scene

Mark Williams took it upon himself to do the job of the referee in his first-round match at the World Snooker Championship. The three-time champion was in the opening frame of his match with Yize Wu when the Chinese player fouled by potting the pink.

However, official Olivier Marteel did not initially call the incident. Williams then took it upon himself to rush around the table and pick the pink out of pocket and place it back on the spot. Marteel followed him, smiling, before trying to explain the delay.

As Williams plucked the ball out, the crowd laughed before the Belgian said: "Yeah I was talking, I was talking to someone in the crowd. No it's ok (as Williams picked ball up)."

He then replaced the ball himself, before finally shouting: "Foul, Mark Williams, six." The TNT Sport commentators also joined in with the humour, with one saying: "He's made an excuse for not calling it, that he was talking to someone.

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"But to be honest, he should have remembered it anyway. He didn't like it that Mark took that pink out, he put it back on the spot himself, he was having none of that."

The co-commentator referenced the personality of Williams, adding: "He's always had a wicked sense of humour, Mark. He loves a wind-up."

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