Snooker ace ‘to strip bare and run down motorway’ if he wins World Championship
Welsh snooker ace Mark Williams has promised to run down the M4 naked if he wins a fourth World Championship – and he has a history of similar stunts
Mark Williams has already bared all(Image: PA)
Snooker ace Mark Williams has promised to strip down and run stark naked down the M4 if he can win the a fourth world title.
It’s a bold statement from the star, but it’s one that he’s promised, and delivered, before. The three time World Champion has already bared all in front of the media, preserving his modesty with a towel, in after winning the title.
“It’s cold in here, init,” the Welshman joked back in 2018, as he took off his towel and behind the safety of a cloth-covered table. “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.
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“It’s an unbelievable story. Twelve months ago I was thinking about chucking it, and here I am doing an interview having won the 2018 World Championship, naked.
“If I won this again next year, I’d do this again – I’d cartwheel round here naked,” thankfully, for all involved, he didn’t. But Williams has a similar goal this year.
“I’d run down the M4 from London to Cardiff naked,” Williams said ahead of this year’s event. “I’d do anything to get try and get another title, but the chances are as the years go by, you’re less likely to win it.”
The Welshman is aware his days in the sport are numbered, and if he is to conquer the world one more time he would surpasses Ronnie O’Sullivan as the oldest ever World Champion.
Williams came close to number four last year, but lost out in the final to Chinese sensation Zhao Xintong. The Welshman said: “When I was 45 I said I’d like to see where I am in the rankings when I’m 50.
“I’m not retiring, I made that decision years ago. Let’s see where I am in the rankings at 55, that’ll be interesting. I’m still fighting. I’m still trying and that’s all I can say.
“I try my best in every tournament and if you win, great, if you lose, that’s not the end of the world.”
Earlier this year, Williams opened up on his battle with the yips – a neurological condition where sports star’s seemingly lose fine motor skills.
“It’s a bit concerning. I’m like a paranoid mess at the minute, because I’m just thinking, I’m not going to screw it back, and I’m snatching. And yeah, it’s not great, but I need the practise to get out of it,” added Williams.
“I’m not putting in enough work. I’m going to come in now and try and play most days until the World Championship just to try and get that timing back.”
