The world snooker champion Mark Williams has vowed to perform naked cartwheels if he repeats the effort next year.
The world snooker champion Mark Williams has vowed to perform naked cartwheels if he repeats the effort next year after stripping off in celebration of his latest win.
The 43-year-old nicknamed the Welsh Potting Machine withstood a fightback from England's John Higgins to win his third world title at the Crucible in Sheffield, 15 years after his last win.
He's the oldest winner at the Crucible since 45-year-old Ray Reardon in 1978 and Williams fulfilled a promise to hold his press conference naked, although he wore a towel to protect his modesty.
Williams made the suggestion as a joke early in the tournament, hardly believing he would carry off the silverware.
Mark Williams follows through on his promise to strip for the press conference if he won the world snooker championship. Photo: @ShamoonHafez BBC Sport
He was welcomed to the media room with a roar and said: "Cold in here, isn't it!"
Asked how his success felt, Williams said "it feels a little bit uncomfortable at the minute. I had to wear the towel on the orders of Barry Hearn otherwise I would just have walked in, just crying.
"It's an unbelievable story. Twelve months ago I was thinking about chucking it... if I won this again next year, I'd do this again - I'd cartwheel round here naked.
"I'm going to party the night away. Last time I won it I think I had half a pint of milk and went to bed. I'm not going to bed this time - it'll be daylight before I get to bed."
World Snooker champion Mark Williams. Photo: Photosport
The champion's young sons, Kian, Connor and Joel, witnessed the drama - having not been born when he previously triumphed in 2000 and 2003. Wife Jo was seriously ill at one stage earlier in the season but she too watched on.
Williams, who failed to even qualify for last year's world championship, said of his family "I'm sure they've enjoyed it. My missus couldn't stop crying for ages, I got a little bit emotional towards the end as well. I thought these days had all passed to be honest."
Williams was "away in my caravan, getting drunk and watching it on TV" when his fellow cuemen contested the 2017 tournament.
-AAP
