Breaking news: Mark Williams gets nervous during snooker matches. You thought he had ice in his veins and a metronome-steady heartbeat? Think again.

To be clear, the three-time Crucible king still doesn’t feel the heat when he’s playing, even under the pressure of a world final. The nerves only come when he’s watching his son Joel.

Already showing signs of promise in his father’s footsteps, 13-year-old Joel has won tournaments at under-14 and under-16 level in Wales and qualified for this year's European Championships in Spain. He competed in the under-16 and under-18 tournaments, and though he was unable to make it through the group phase, he won matches against older opponents.

And his proud dad was among the spectators on the sidelines, though he admits he’s much more comfortable with cue in hand himself.

“It’s tough for me to watch him,” admitted Williams, still ranked within the world’s top eight at the age of 51. “I do get nervous especially when frames go close, my hands are sweaty and my heart is pumping. I never get nervous when I’m playing, but watching Joel is much harder. It’s tough for him as well because people are always going to compare him to me.

“He won a couple of matches at the Euros, and could have won more if he has nicked some of the frames that came down to the pink and black. One of his games was against Michal Szubarczyk who is on the tour, he lost but a couple of the frames went down to the colours. I like walking around and trying to spot those with the best potential. I was talking about how good Szubarczyk looks long before he got on the tour.”

While keeping expectations low as Joel has years ahead of him on the junior scene, Williams can see something of his own technique and talent in the teenager. He said: “I found a picture of myself when I the same age, I posted it next to a picture of him, side by side, and we do look very similar, he’s like a mini-me. I had my first century when I was 13, he has just turned 13 and his highest is 76 so he’s trying to catch me up.

“He is getting good experience playing against much older players, when I was that age I didn’t get the chance to go to events in Europe. All the credit goes to (wife) Jo because she’s the one who drives him everywhere to practise and tournaments, obviously I can’t do that if I’m playing.

“At home I’ll have a frame or a best of three with him now and then, but I don’t let him win. There’s no pressure on him, but if he gets good enough and wants to follow in my footsteps then great. If he ever gets on tour and draws me then I still won’t let him win.”

Like Father Like Son: Joel Hopes To Follow In Big Footsteps