STARK WILLIAMS
Mark vows to bare all if he claims title
MARK WILLIAMS has vowed to go naked at the Crucible if he wins an unexpected third world title.
At 43, the rejuvenated Welsh star is the oldest player left in the Betfred World Championship in Sheffield.
Williams won the first of his two crowns 18 years ago yesterday – and then repeated the feat three years later.
He almost quit last summer – but the left-hander, part of the famous ‘Class of 1992’ including Ronnie O’Sullivan and John Higgins, enjoyed a spectacular renaissance this season.
Williams, who has won three tournaments this term, also enjoyed a narrow escape on the eve of his quarter-final against Ronnie O’Sullivan’s conqueror Ali Carter. He almost broke a finger in his cueing hand tripping off a platform in the venue on Monday, but stands 4-4 overnight after yesterday’s first session.
The world No.7 said: “If I do win this for a third time, 15 years after the last one, I will come in and do my press conference naked. How about that? I’m sure a lot of people would hold me to that now I have said it.
“I would love to make it to the semi-finals when it goes down to the one table and this venue turns into pretty much the best venue about.
“My game is in the best shape it has been in for years. It might not quite be at the level when I was world No.1 nearly 20 years ago, but it’s not far.”
Judd Trump admits a first world title would mean far more to his parents than himself.
The Juddernaut holds a 5-3 lead over four-time champion John Higgins in their first Crucible rematch since the spectacular final of 2011.
Dad Steve, a long-distance lorry driver, and mum Georgina, a school cook, made huge sacrifices ferrying their son around as a junior.
World No.3 Trump, 28, has seen the critics queue up to suggest he lacks the bottle to lift the sport’s biggest prize.
But the heir apparent to O’Sullivan said: “For me to win this world title would be far more special for my dad than me, there is no question about that.
“I would love to reward my parents for all the help and support they gave me in the early years, there were plenty of sacrifices driving me everywhere.
“The best way would be a first world title.”