Mark Williams has more than just Jamie Clarke to deal with at the Barbican (Picture: Getty Images)
Mark Williams said his boxer shorts did not see the end of the third frame after illness hampered him in a 6-3 loss to Jamie Clarke at the UK Championship.
It was obvious from early on that the three-time world champion was in a bad way, as he was at the table in the first frame before suddenly dashing backstage just five minutes into the match.
It was a contender for the earliest toilet break in the history of snooker and the Welshman was hurrying backstage again in the third frame as his problems persisted.
Remarkably, Williams seemed to be dealing with the nightmare situation pretty well, returning from that departure in the first frame to make a break of 70, but over the match it cost him, although Clarke played well to pick up a huge win over the legend of the baize.
In typical Williams fashion, he did not hold back in his post-match assessment.
‘I’ve felt better playing a snooker match, I’ve got to be honest, but take nothing away from Jamie, he played quite well and he deserved to win,’ Williams told Eurosport.
‘It must be [food poisoning]. I went out there with a pair of boxers on, by frame three they were gone, that’s all I can say really.
‘If it wasn’t the UK Championships I’m not sure I’d have come back out after the interval, to be honest.
‘It’s a bit disappointing for myself because I’ve been practicing hard while I’m up here and hitting the ball really well. But when you go out there and you’re shaking like a leaf all over your body, you’ve got no chance. I tried, but jut no chance.
‘I’ve got to go and find my boxers in the bin somewhere now.’
Clarke did his job and is into the last 16 of the UK Championship for the first time with a win over one of his heroes growing up as a snooker fan in Wales.
The 28-year-old felt bad for Williams, but did not let the unusual situation affect him, making a joke of it with the crowd.
‘Obviously he was uncomfortable and he’s had something bad to eat, I was sympathising but it didn’t put me off at all,’ Clarke said.
‘I was just laughing. I said to the crowd, “Have I won?” I thought he’d given up! On a serious note, I hope he’s alright.
World number 49 Jamie Clarke secured a big win as he looks to progress up the rankings (Picture: Getty Images)
‘In a strange way it helped me because it took the attention away from me. I’m just chuffed to get a good win against a top player in one of our biggest events.
‘This is a great opportunity for me to go deep because I’m trying to get into the top 32.’
Clarke has another tough task ahead of him with Ding Junhui waiting in the last 16.
MORE : Ronnie O’Sullivan ‘feels like there’s a plot’ allowing him to keep winning
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‘I’ve felt better playing a snooker match.’
