CARL Clark has made history after becoming the first Welshman to be crowned Senior World Pool champion.

The Machynlleth ace has enjoyed a stellar year on the baize and helped Wales to the senior team of six title at the 2018 Blackball World Championships in Yorkshire last month.

The 43 year old has been playing snooker and pool since he was aged eight years old and won a host of silverware in the Machynlleth Snooker League before switching to compete in the Newtown Pool League.

Clark is current Newtown Pool League single champion with Clark full of praise for the standard.

“It’s the best league in Wales by far,”said Clark who will be playing for Carmarthen Exiles in the county pool league next season as he maintains his bid to improve his game.

Clark made his Wales debut in 2014, winning the Nations Cup in Northern Ireland and helping the Welsh team retain its crown in the Republic of Ireland the following year.

Since 2014 Clark has been a regular on the European Championships circuit but with limited success until this year.

Clark qualified as the third ranked Welsh player for the World Championships and in my first time of asking won the Seniors World Championships last month.

“The title is widely regarded as one of the hardest titles to win as it’s full of players that have been there and done it,” said Clark.

Clark beat multiple European and World champion Kevin Seaman in the semi-final to book a place against team mate Paul Martin in the final with the Machynlleth star completing a 6-0 win.

Clark conceded the final experience proved bitter sweet against his friend and team-mate.

“It seems like a whitewash but it was a difficult game,” said Clark. “I felt for my team-mate to be losing 6-0 but also over the moon to win and become the first man from Wales to win the title.

Clark paid tribute to his wife Sarah for her support as well as practise partners Robert Griffiths, Josh Allen, Aron James and Dave Powell of Churchstoke’s Horse & Jockey and Rhian and Paul Thomas of the Welsh Pool Association while appealing for sponsors to make contact.