Veteran snooker star Mark Williams has declared he would undertake an even more outrageous naked stunt than his infamous 2018 press conference if it guaranteed him a fourth World Snooker Championship victory this year. The 51-year-old Welshman, a three-time world champion, made global headlines eight years ago when he fulfilled a promise to conduct his post-victory media appearance completely nude after defeating John Higgins 18-16 in what many consider one of the greatest Crucible finals ever played.
The Legendary Naked Promise
Williams, who hadn't won the world title since 2003 and missed Crucible qualification entirely in 2017, shocked the sporting world with his bold pre-final pledge. True to his word, the champion entered the press room wearing only a towel, which he promptly removed upon sitting down. That moment has become embedded in snooker folklore, remembered as vividly as the epic final itself.
"I'd Do Anything"
Now, as he prepares for another Crucible campaign, Williams has raised the stakes dramatically. Speaking to the BBC, he stated: "If someone said you could win the World Championship but you'll have to run down the M4 from London to Cardiff naked, I'd do it. I'd do anything to try to get another one."
The world number six reached last year's final before falling to Zhao Xintong, and he acknowledges that opportunities for veteran players like himself, Ronnie O'Sullivan, and John Higgins are diminishing with time. "The chances are me, Ronnie and John as the years go by one of us are less likely to win it," Williams admitted. "Last year Ronnie lost in the semis and I lost in the final, so we're still knocking around. Who knows?"
Technical Troubles and Mental Battles
Despite becoming the oldest ranking event winner in snooker history earlier this season by defeating Shaun Murphy in the Xi'an Grand Prix final, Williams enters this year's World Championship expressing significant concerns about his game. He fears he may be developing "the yips" - a nervous condition affecting fine motor control.
After a recent loss to Higgins at the Tour Championship, Williams revealed to Channel 5: "It was a struggle. I enjoyed it, but every time I have to hit the ball below centre with a tiny bit of pace. I think I might have the yips coming on because I just can't play them any more. I'm jabbing and anything that needs a little bit of power, I'm frightened to death of it."
Paranoia and Preparation
Speaking further to the BBC about his technical difficulties, Williams confessed: "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 practice to get out of it. 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."
Crucible Campaign Begins
Williams begins his quest for a fourth world title on Saturday afternoon against Polish debutant Antoni Kowalski, who becomes the first player from Poland ever to compete at the Crucible Theatre. The match represents both a challenge for the veteran and a historic moment for snooker's global expansion.
As the snooker world gathers in Sheffield for the sport's premier event, Williams' combination of bold promises, technical concerns, and undeniable championship pedigree creates one of the tournament's most compelling narratives. Whether he can overcome his self-diagnosed yips and make good on his extreme forfeit promise remains to be seen, but the Welshman has already guaranteed he'll be one of the most talked-about competitors at this year's World Championship.
