Snooker champ Mark Williams granted freedom of home county

Snooker world champ Mark Williams has been granted the freedom of his home county - and officials hope he will accept the honour "fully dressed."

The 43-year-old defeated fellow veteran John Higgins to become world champion at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield this month.

But the "Welsh Potting Machine" caused a stir when he did his winning press conference completely naked.

His win came 15 years after he last won the title - and made him the oldest player to win the World Snooker Championship since 1978.

Now the proud Welshman, of Cwm in Blaenau Gwent, south Wales, has been honoured by his home county.

Councillor Stewart Healy, Plaid Cymru ward member, said: "On behalf of the Williams family, I am honoured today to thank the council, on behalf of them, for bestowing this honour on the family.

“I look forward to him picking up the honour and I hope he’s fully dressed.”

Williams, who was thinking of quitting the game just 12 months before his major win, will get the accolade later in the year.

The Welshman’s career prize money has now reached an impressive £5,875,346.

He is fourth on the all-time earners list having overtaken Steve Davis, he now only trails Ronnie O’Sullivan, Stephen Hendry and John Higgins.

Williams is married to wife Joanne and the couple have three sons - Conor, Kian and Joel.

During his naked press conference he said: "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."

And true to his word the world champ shared a photo of himself enjoying a beer in the morning sun on Twitter after staying up all night.