19 March 2023 , 23:04
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Mark Williams has joked that he has "blocked" protege Jackson Page's number after he knocked the three-time World Champion out of the inaugural WST Classic.
The pair are close friends away from the sport and regularly practice together, with Williams referring to Page as his "fourth son" last year.
Speaking ahead of a game against Page in last year's World Snooker Championship, Williams said: "Obviously, I'm going to try my best to beat him and I want to destroy him – there's no question.
"I don't like losing to anybody but, if I am going to lose to anybody and I had to pick, it would be him.
"He's not just a friend; he's more like my fourth son really He comes to the house; we play cards together with my kids, pizzas, golf, badminton – you name it, we do it together."
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On that occasion, Williams beate Page 13-3 before being eliminated by Judd Trump in the semi-finals. However, at the WST classic the apprentice got one over on the master as Page won their last-64 clash 4-3.
Page beat Williams 4-3 to reach the last-32 (George Wood/Getty Images)And following the defeat, Williams joked on Twitter : "Jackson number has just been blocked". He then added: "Never thought I'd see the day where Old Willo wasn't even the best player in the club.
"Sad day for me. The abuse has started. Even my youngest is giving me abuse , must be cause @JacksonPage147 bribes him with pokemon cards".
Page is now set to face Zhou Yuelong in the last-32 after he beat Liam Highfield 4-2 in their last-63 match.