Snooker: Older and wiser Williams determined to remain on top of the world this time

The most telling moment in the earthy post-match euphoria that followed Mark Williams' epic 18-16 World Championship win over Ken Doherty late on Monday night in Sheffield came when the Welshman was asked how he intended to build on his success.

The 28-year-old had already reflected on the "special" achievements of the past fortnight. He had regained the No 1 ranking in the world, only the second person to do so after Ray Reardon in 1982. He had become only the third person, after Steve Davis and Stephen Hendry, to secure the "triple crown" of the UK Championship, the UK Masters and the world title in the same season. He had also emulated that pair – and them alone – in winning a second title at the Crucible.

"It is an amazing feeling and unbelievable when you get mentioned in the same breath as people like Hendry, Davis and Reardon," Williams said. "I never thought I would win one world championship, let alone two. To be only the second man to get the No 1 spot back is also special to me. I'm flying at the moment but now the aim is to stay there."

Williams had also explained, frankly, what had been going through his head as Doherty had threatened the most astonishing comeback in Crucible history. The Irishman recovered from 10-2 and then 11-5 down to pull back to 16-16 before succumbing.

"At one stage I was absolutely terrified out there," Williams said. "At 11-8, it was like I was playing with a different hand on the end of my arm. I could feel nothing and I was glad to get out of that session at 12-12. It could have been 13-11 to Ken. I was lucky the interval came. If we'd kept going, there was no way I would have won. The interval at that juncture definitely saved me."

Williams also revealed the curious blend of off-table tactics he had employed to see him through. One was to go back to his hotel at 12-12, have a game of cards with an old friend, Ian "Sarge" Sargeant, and then get into a fight. "Sarge started telling me I was bottling it," Williams laughed. "He said 'You're playing like a fool' so I hit him. He hit me back. He said: 'For God's sake get out there and hit some balls'."

Back at the venue, at 14-14, Williams took advice from his friend and counsellor, Terry Griffiths, who told him to face his fear, not be swamped by it. They spent 10 minutes in the practice room, soothing Williams' nerves. The player then returned to the arena and sang songs in his head to stave off doubts. His tune of choice was Tom Jones' Delilah.

These details were given and greeted with much mirth yesterday, but the smiling stopped in an instant when Williams was asked: "Where do you go now as a player?" He had, after all, been the world champion and world No 1 three years ago and then failed to build on those successes. Worse, they made him complacent. He stopped practising. His play became inconsistent. He became increasingly frustrated and angry. As he admitted yesterday, his game – and his attitude – went to pieces.

"I went downhill on a seriously steep road," he said. "After the 2000 world title win, my form deserted me, I never practised so much. I was taking things too easy because of what I'd already done.

"If you go down that hill too many times, then eventually you are not going to get back up it. It took me a while and I've learnt the lessons. Now I'm going to work even harder next year and am determined to stay on top of the pile."

On tone alone, he meant every word.

Evidently Griffiths, the 1979 champion and a self-confessed "amateur psychologist", has made a huge impact on Williams. "I'm going to work as hard as I can with the old man," Williams said, nodding to his mentor. "He stopped me going right to the bottom of the hill, turned me around and sent me back up."

Griffiths' main method, it seems, is to be a constant source of reassurance. His message at 14-14 on Monday was simply: "Keep your belief". He said: "I just tried to relax him. I could see he was a bit shaken. I told him to trust in himself and in his ability to win the world championship and he went out and did the business. He is a very special player."

Quite how special is now becoming apparent. In an era when the leading bunch on the circuit – not least Ronnie O'Sullivan, Doherty, Hendry, Paul Hunter, John Higgins and Peter Ebdon – are all capable of beating each other and of winning major events, Williams has now stepped up.

"I don't think you can dominate the game as maybe happened in the past because there are so many good players around," he said, before adding he'll give it his best. There is some gap to jump before he catches Davis, who has six world titles, or Hendry, with seven. But at least Monday's win allowed take-off.