Snooker player Mark Williams fined over Twitter comments

A disciplinary committee ruled Williams' remarks were 'unacceptable and potentially highly damaging' Credit: Anna Gowthorpe/PA Wire

Snooker player Mark Williams has been fined over 'unacceptable and potentially highly damaging' Twitter remarks ahead of this year's world championships.

The 37-year-old Welshman took to his Twitter account on the eve of the tournament to comment that although Sheffield is a 'nice place', he 'hated' The Crucible venue.

He told a fellow Twitter user that he'd 'rather play in Pontins' and said he hoped the tournament would soon be held in China.

Williams then added: 'It's only my opinion about the Crucible WSA so dont send me any letters or fines.'

But later he tweeted: 'Wow I'm in trouble for my last tweet about the Crucible, people from the paper and World Snooker been on the phone.'

The two-time former world champion was ruled to have breached WPBSA guidelines. He's been fined £3,000 and ordered to pay £1,000 towards the costs of a World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association hearing.

It's Williams' second Twitter-related fine of the season after an earlier rebuke for using foul language.

The Crucible is contracted via Sheffield City Council to stage the tournament through to 2015.