Mark Williams attacked by WASP during Masters snooker match

Mark Williams was forced to halt his quarterfinals Masters match after he was ambushed by a wasp.

Under bizarre circumstances, the 47-year-old Welshman was in the eighth frame of his match against David Gilbert when the troublesome wasp launched its attack.

In a moment of slapstick comedy, referee Marcel Eckardt told Williams that the small creature was behind him before the wasp found itself in a rather awkward position on Williams’ body.

The wasp then flew away before returning with vengeance as Williams kicked out which saw the crowd roar with laughter at Alexandra Palace.

But the nuisance being wasn’t finished, it soon came back to Williams who ran to his chair and grabbed a towel to defend himself.

Following the strange series of events, the wasp rested on the neck of a nearby cameraman before Eckardt lashed out at it with a towel.

Williams finished the frame with a break of 27 which won him a place in the last eight.

Talking about his upcoming match he said: "Yeah, it will be amazing.

"It's two and half thousand in here, I'd probably have three people in the corner wanting me to win but that's how it is when you play Ronnie.

“I'm going to love the occasion and I'm playing well so I'm not a pushover for anyone."