THE reigning snooker world champion is to receive the honour of the freedom of Blaenau Gwent.

Mark Williams MBE defeated John Higgins 18-16 at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre in the final of the 2018 Betfred World Snooker Championships on May 6 and May 7.

Adding to his titles from 2000 and 2003, the three-time world champion from Cwm will become the first person from the world of sport to receive the honour.

The 43-year-old will become the 10th recipient of the honour which includes the former Blaenau Gwent MP and Labour leader Michael Foot.

He will receive the accolade later in the year after Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council members unanimously supported the requests from Cllrs Gareth Leslie Davies and Hedley McCarthy.

A freedom of the borough cross-party working group was “hastily convened” according to Cllr Nigel Daniels, the council’s leader, earlier this month following the final.

Cllr Stewart Healy, the Independent ward member for Beaufort and working group chairman, said: “The freedom of the borough cross-party working group met on May 17 to consider two applications that were received to bestow the freedom of the borough on Mark Williams, in recognition of his sporting achievements i.e. three times snooker [world] champion.

“Following a discussion, the group unanimously agreed to recommend to council that the freedom of the borough be granted to Mark Williams.”

Cllr Davies added he was looking forward to the ceremony but hoped Mr Williams would be more suitably dressed than he was during the final press conference of the championships.

“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,” said the Plaid Cymru ward member for Cwm.

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

Cllr Derrick Bevan, the Labour ward member for Cwm, said it was “a well-deserved honour”.

In addition to Messrs Foot and Williams, the eight previous recipients of the freedom of the borough in Blaenau Gwent are: Idris Pope BEM JP, David Ronald Evans MBE JP, the Blaina firefighters, John C. J. Tunley BA, W.D.R. Herbert MBE, R. Leadbeter, OBE, The Royal Welsh Regiment and Company Sergeant Major John Henry Williams VC, DCM, MM and Bar - Medaille Militaire.