World Snooker Championship: ‘Naughty’ Ronnie O’Sullivan criticised by Mark Williams over ‘disrespectful’ and ‘unfair’ remarks about younger generation
Mark Williams has hit out at Ronnie O'Sullivan for his 'disrespectful' remarks about the next generation of snooker players, which he said was also insulting towards him.
Five-time world champion O'Sullivan went on an incredible rant primarily about the new players on the world tour, claiming he would have to 'lose an arm and a leg to fall out of the top 50'.
While Williams understands O'Sullivan's sentiments, he believes 'the Rocket' went too far by blasting the quality of his colleagues.
"I understand what he was saying that the standard's no good, but that's compared to him," said Williams, who O'Sullivan beat 13-10 at the Crucible on Tuesday to reach the World Championship semi-finals.
He added: "He's including me in that. He is the pioneer for our sport. He is the main man without doubt and the best player in the world.
"You'd never have another top sportsman in their field sort of disrespecting or slagging off the rest of the tour.
"There's no-one on the tour that's as good as him but it's unfair to class everyone else in his standards because it's not going to happen.
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"And for him to have a go at the lower-ranked players I think it's a bit naughty."
The pair both turned professional in 1992, with Williams a year older [45] than his rival.
Despite squandering a 6-2 lead against O'Sullivan, the Welshman insists he will come back stronger for the new season.
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"I'll just continue with the work I've been doing for the last few months. I'll just carry on," he explained.
"I'm not going to be in a club playing five, six hours a day. I can't do that any more.
"But I'm determined to get in there two or three hours a day, four hours tops, then just keep my game ticking over - and when it starts back in September, see if I can do any damage."