Mark Williams has been forced out of the European Masters qualifiers this week and next week’s English Open after a positive Covid-19 test.
The three-time world champion has had a good start to the season, winning the British Open in August to take his ranking title tally to 24.
He booked his spot at the main stage of the German Masters last week with two wins in qualifying, but will not get to do the same at the European Masters after returning a positive Covid-19 test.
This will also keep him out of next week’s English Open in Milton Keynes, so it will not be until the Champion of Champions, starting on 15 November that we will see the Welshman next.
The 46-year-old confirmed the news on Twitter on Tuesday in typically semi-incomprehensible fashion, writing: ‘That’s me out of the European. Pcr = positive ffs }#spentweekswothmrsandkidshavi gotamddidntgetitnownoosjhh.’
WST confirmed that Williams will be replaced by Mark Lloyd at both events, with Lloyd playing Yuan Sijun in the European Masters opening round and Paul Deaville in the English Open first round.
Williams added on Twitter that he was suffering with symptoms, feeling ‘rough as f**k’ as he struggles with Covid.
The Welsh Potting Machine is not the only player who has been forced out of action this week, with Sam Craigie withdrawing from the European Masters qualifying due to injury, with his neck and shoulder causing him problems.
James Cahill was due to replace Craigie and face Soheil Vahedi but the Blackpool cueman tested positive for Covid-19 so Vahedi has been handed a bye to the main stages of the event.
The European Masters qualifying is played this week, with just one round cutting down the field to 64 players who head to Furth, Germany in February next year for the main stage.
The top four players in the world have their qualifying matches held over to the main arena, with Mark Selby playing Matt Selt, Judd Trump meeting Michael Judge, Ronnie O’Sullivan facing Nigel Bond and Neil Robertson taking on Lei Peifan in the first round in Furth.
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