MARK Williams eased into the second round of the UK Snooker Championship but the man nicknamed ‘The Welsh Wonder’ revealed he is playing through the pain barrier.

Williams – a two-time UK and world champion – beat 18-year-old Steven Hallworth 6-1 at the York Barbican to set up a second-round clash with Jimmy Robertson.

But the former world No.1, who hails from Cwm, admitted he is battling a neck problem that seems to be getting worse by the day.

“I’ve been training and hit the weights in the last month or so and I’ve done something to my neck,” he said.

“I’ve had it for about three weeks now and it’s starting to get worse. If I have to stretch, then all around my neck and my shoulder it’s just hurting so I can’t get down to some shots.

“I’ve had physio back home and that’s eased it up a bit but I’ll need some more, definitely. There’s no sign of it clearing up in the next few days – it’s going to take a while, I think.

“I played well. A had a lot of big breaks – one-visit breaks – and put him under pressure from the off. I knew it would be difficult for him, starting off, because it’s a big arena and he’s new on the tour.

“I’m lucky really because I always treat every player the same, no matter who they are. I’ve practised with him up in Sheffield and I know he’s a good player.

“It’s just going to take him a while to settle in on tour and I’m sure he will start getting results.”

Elsewhere, 21-year-old Cwmbran prospect Jak Jones was beaten 6-2 by world No.19 Mark Davis.

“That was probably the worst I've played all season,” he said. “I just felt terrible right from the start. It was the same last year when I played Mark Allen and didn’t get settled.

“Obviously this is one of the major tournaments and you want to do well, especially because my family are here, but I'm only 21, so it's not a problem.

“It's disappointing because I've been playing well this season but oddly, I suppose the PTCs are more important to me in terms of staying on the tour.

“I only need another two wins from them to keep my place. I feel a lot better in myself now than last year and things are looking better, apart from today.”

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