Mark Williams shrugged off a bout of gout to progress at the Coral World Grand Prix in Cheltenham with a 4-2 victory over Barry Hawkins.
The three-time world champion wore a slipper on his left foot and was in obvious pain as he limped around the table to play his shots.
But the 44-year-old Welshman still overpowered former Grand Prix champion Hawkins to book a second-round clash with Neil Robertson.
One limp away from the last 16.@markwil147 #CoralSnookerSeries pic.twitter.com/OcYtDQQSof
— World Snooker Tour (@WeAreWST) February 5, 2020
“I’ve never had gout before,” Williams told ITV 4. “I’ve heard people say how painful it is and now I know, it’s unbelievable.
“You can’t get a sock on it. You’re lying in bed and can’t even have the bed sheets touch you.
“You’re screaming in pain and you can’t do anything about it.”
Gout is a form of arthritis caused by excess uric acid in the bloodstream.
But Williams said: “In the last month I’ve ate so healthy, I haven’t had one drink and no fried food.
“I’ve been eating pasta and jacket potatoes. I’ve been walking 30 miles a week playing golf and I get gout.
Welsh Potting Machine @markwil147 is the man to make up the last 16 of the @Coral World Grand Prix!
Neil Robertson awaits #CoralSnookerSeries pic.twitter.com/wmSpZ9Wew7
— World Snooker Tour (@WeAreWST) February 5, 2020
“So I’m just going to have a kebab tonight and get back on the Budweiser!”
In other first-round action, John Higgins beat Stuart Bingham 4-2 for a sixth successive win over the Masters champion.
Higgins’ second-round opponent will be Zhao Xintong, who overcame fellow Chinese Yan Bingtao 4-2.
Kyren Wilson beat Jack Lisowski 4-3 in a first-round nerve-jangler.
