Mark Williams stayed true to his word after clinching his third world snooker title on Monday by conducting his post-match news conference naked.
The 43-year-old, who had promised to strip off if he won, beat Scotland’s John Higgins 18-16 in a dramatic final to become the event’s oldest winner for 40 years. As promised, Mark Williams turned up to the news conference with just a towel around his waist.
“It’s an unbelievable story, 12 months ago I was thinking of chucking it. Here I am winning the 2018 World Championships,” said Williams.
“Where has it come from? Unbelievable 12 months. If I never win another tour or my form goes downhill I don't care. I've just done something I thought I'd never ever do.”
The three-times world champion looked forward to returning to the Crucible next year and promised to outdo himself if he defended his title.
“I'm just looking forward to coming back next year. I'm not going to say anything stupid and end up like this but to be honest if I won this next year I’d cartwheel down here naked.”
Higgins (42) fought back from 15-10 down to level at 15-15 but Williams won the next two frames and although he missed a simple pink to clinch the match 18-15, he kept his nerve to close out victory 15 years after he won his second world crown.
“You have to expect a comeback from John Higgins, when you are 50-60 in front he is the best at coming back,” Williams said at the presentation ceremony.
“I knew at the end if I didn't get enough in front he would clear up again but I'm over the moon. Last year I was seriously thinking of giving up, but my game is in pretty good shape now.”
Higgins, four-times world champion, finished runner-up for the second year in a row.
“It was unbelievable to play in front of this crowd,” he said. “The last frame was just a joke there for him to play that well under that pressure. He is a great champion.”
Welshman Ray Reardon won his sixth world title in 1978 at the age of 45 to become the oldest winner of the event.
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