Snooker champion has 'serious phobia' of tea bags

A three-time world champion snooker star has revealed he has an unexpected phobia when he steps away from the table.

Mark Williams made the revelation during the Welsh Open where he was eliminated in the last 16 after losing to Barry Hawkins.

The 50-year-old told BBC presenter Catrin Heledd that he was "in trouble" after she exposed him live on air for his fear of tea bags.

The Welshman has been experiencing a resurgence in his career of late after he became the oldest ever winner of a ranking event in October last year.

Known as the Welsh Potting Machine, Williams admitted he was far more comfortable around the baize than he is when near the hot drink.

Speaking to Heledd during the mid-session interval during a Welsh Open quarter-final clash in Llandudno, the presenter said you could "learn a lot" about people in a half hour of snooker action.

She went on to reveal the shocked Welshman's unusual phobia, who was working alongside her as a pundit.

"Great I can't wait to get out of here now," joked Williams in response.

Heledd said the name for the unorthodox phobia was diclebgophobia - a fear of tea bags.

The fear is separate to tepidophobia - which is humorously described as a fear or intense dislike of a badly made cup of tea.

Snooker commentator and pundit Stephen Hendry confirmed his old adversary, who is known for his sense of humour, was being honest about the phobia.

"I have threatened him when we go and have a game of golf, I'll have a couple in the bag when he's ready to putt," he told WST's Snooker Club podcast.

Hendry said his long-time friend had warned he will "punch" him if he brings any tea bags on the golf course.

'It's so weird and he's deadly serious about it. He says 'If you ever do that, I will come for you'," he added.

Hendry said he witnessed the Welshman's unusual habits as the pair went toe-to-toe during the late 90s and early 2000s.

"It's the strangest thing ever," he said.

"He doesn't drink tea or coffee or any hot drinks."

Despite the threats, Hendry has not been dissuaded from pranking his friend, admitting he "will do it one time".

"Because the amount of things he does to me that I tell him not to do, the list is long," he added.

Next up for Williams on the snooker circuit is the World Open in Yushan, China, before the World Championship gets underway in April.

He will be making his 28th appearance at the famous Crucible after making his debut in 1997.

Williams was beaten in last year's final by Zhao Xintong who made history when he became China's first world snooker champion.