'I knew I couldn't win' – Mark Williams on why frantic dash to Hong Kong Masters snooker was all about the money

Mark Williams admits his frantic last-minute scramble to compete at the elite eight-player Hong Kong Masters event on Friday was doomed to failure. The three-time world champion made the 13-hour flight from London on Thursday to face Neil Robertson with UK holder Zhao Xintong forced to withdraw after testing positive for Covid-19 on Wednesday. Ad Despite opening with a 133 break against Masters champion Robertson at the 12,500-capacity Hong Kong Coliseum, Williams came up short as the Australian icon showed his class to emerge a 5-3 winner from a taut quarter-final encounter.

Hong Kong MastersRobertson downs Williams to reach semi-finals, could face O'SullivanAN HOUR AGO Robertson contributed 105 and 140 to secure a possible semi-final with world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan on Saturday as Williams rolled in 55 and 80 before an energised crowd. «I knew I couldn't win today,» said world No. 8 Williams, who collected £22,500 for making the starting grid at the invitational tournament.

«Anybody who follows me on Twitter knew I couldn't win today. »All I came for was the £22,500. I'm going to be honest.

I knew I couldn't win. «I'm knackered. I've had about two hours sleep in two days.

I didn't arrive in my hotel room until about quarter to 11 and I was picked up at quarter to 12 to come down here to play my match. »I knew I wasn't going to win, but I tried my best and somehow I got three frames off him." Former world champions Judd Trump and John Higgins saw their match moved from Friday afternoon to Thursday night in Hong Kong to enable Williams to touch down in time for his meeting with Robertson. He only arrived hours before the encounter with preparations limited to watching movies on his flight from the UK.