David Gilbert blames wasp for losing final frame against Mark Williams at The Masters - 'It did my head in'
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Updated 11/01/2023 at 08:23 GMT
Bizarrely, and rather rudely, a wasp interrupted Mark Williams and David Gilbert's Masters match on Tuesday night at Alexandra Palace. The latter believes the disruption cost him the final frame of the match as the Welshman ran out a comfortable 6-2 winner. "I just lost a bit of concentration. I hate wasps, it did my head in," Gilbert reflected in an interview with Eurosport.
'I thought pantomime season was over' - Incredible scenes as wasp attacks Williams
David Gilbert blamed the interference of a menacing wasp for losing the final frame of his 6-2 defeat to Mark Williams on an extraordinary night at The Masters.
Gilbert admits he lost focus despite building up a 62-point lead in the eighth frame as a wasp flew around Alexandra Palace.
The insect eventually caused a lengthy stoppage in the match as it embarked on an attack on Williams and then the cameraman, before the Welshman sealed victory.
Reflecting on the match, Gilbert laughed: “You know, I hate that wasp.
“I should have won that last frame. I just lost a bit of concentration. I hate wasps, it did my head in. But no, well played Mark.”
Gilbert had lost the four opening frames before briefly threatening a fightback as he took the next two and came close to making it 4-3.
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'I thought pantomime season was over' - Incredible scenes as wasp attacks Williams
“I looked like I was going to get steamrollered 6-0 the way he played to begin with, he was brilliant,” Gilbert explained.
“Obviously, I think 6-2 ends up a bit flattering in the end. It’s quite a strange one because I was close to giving him a game there.
“He played great. He pots so well and obviously his safety is brilliant.”
Meanwhile, Williams could afford to laugh about ‘wasp-gate’ in the Eurosport studio afterwards.
Meanwhile, Williams could afford to laugh about ‘wasp-gate’ in the Eurosport studio afterwards.
Watching the incident back on replay, and as it lands on a delicate area of his trousers, he laughed: "They’re all shouting, 'kill it', I thought if I whack that I’m in trouble!"
“If they sting you, you’ll know all about it, don’t worry. Especially if they sting you down there.”
Looking ahead to Thursday’s quarter-final showdown with Ronnie O’Sullivan, Williams couldn’t hide his excitement.
"It's going to be a brilliant atmosphere, I'm looking forward to it," he said.
"For a while now, I've been playing some good stuff. Lee [Walker, his coach] has got me playing some lovely stuff.
"If I think I'm going to get more sting, I'm going for it. If I hit it nice and smooth, it's going in, I don't care where it is. That's why I'm going for some ridiculous shots."
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