Injured Williams forced to withdraw

Snooker: Mark Williams has withdrawn from this year's Royal London Watches Grand Prix in Aberdeen due to a wrist injury.

Snooker:Mark Williams has withdrawn from this year's Royal London Watches Grand Prix in Aberdeen due to a wrist injury.

The two-time world champion injured his left wrist in a gym about 10 days ago and, despite battling on in three group matches, the Welshman decided the pain and discomfort was too much to contend with.

"My wrist is hurting and I can't play properly," said WilIiams. "I don't want to make it worse so I have decided to pull out and rest it before the next tournament."

That will be the UK Championship at the Barbican Centre in York in December.

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Williams decided to pull out of this event after losing his third match, a 3-1 defeat to Robin Hull, a match in which the left-hander looked in real discomfort.

"Every time I play a shot with pace I get a lot of pain," added Williams. "If I had carried on I don't think I could win another frame and I don't want to risk making it worse.

"I have never pulled out of a tournament before and it's not nice. Even if I had won (against Hull) my decision would have been the same.

"Maybe I should never have come here. I decided to give it a try but it was no good.

"To be honest I didn't think I would win a match here. I twisted my left hand awkwardly about 10 days ago and if I play with a bit of power my wrist really hurts.

"The only realistic chance of winning was if someone played badly. I had thought I would have to bring them down to my level."