Mark Williams remained tight-lipped after suffering a shock first round defeat at the European Open in Malta last night.
The world champion was beaten 5-1 by Nottingham's Anthony Hamilton but refused to answer questions at his post-match press conference for fear of being disciplined by the game's governing body.
The WPBSA has warned players that they face action if they make critical statements to the media. And if Williams was annoyed with the playing conditions, he elected not to voice his complaints.
"I'm not saying anything because if I do I could be in trouble so I'm keeping my mouth shut," said Williams, who won the LG Cup in Preston but has struggled since.
Hamilton was beaten 9-8 by Williams in the 2002 China Open final having led 9-8 and his form has deteriorated so badly in the last two years that he headed to Malta standing 34th in the provisional rankings.
But breaks of 51, 65 and 46 helped him into a 3-1 interval lead and a 133 break in the fifth extended his advantage to 4-1 before a last red to black clearance in the sixth secured victory.
Filed by Sinéad Kissane
