Maxwell overcame the challenge of over 800 fellow competitors to reach the final against fellow Scot, and close friend, Martin Fisher, at the Blackball 8 Ball Pool World Championships.

The first to six frame final proved to be an extremely hard fought affair with neither player able to dominate.

The countrymen shared frame by frame as Fisher went 5-4 up. However, the man from Maybole missed an opportunity to win the match — and Maxwell stepped in to level the tie, before wrapping up the decider with Fisher failing to pot a ball from the break at the Perth Bell Sports Centre.

Maxwell couldn’t hide his delight, but refused to celebrate in front of his friend, he said: “It was the best feeling in the world when I potted that winning black — but the worst thing was playing a team mate and very good friend, so out of respect I would not celebrate even though it just felt like the perfect moment to jump about.” But the 45-year-old admitted that once he was on the podium, he couldn’t stop himself from celebrating. Presented with a beautiful trophy and gold medal, Maxwell was overcome with emotion.

He explained: “When your standing up there getting presented with the trophy and medal put over your head with the full crowd watching and music playing it’s a very emotional time.

“I just wish my son Christopher and daughter Courtney were there to see it.

However, upon the back of his recent success, Maxwell revealed he plans to call a day on his pool career.

He explained: “I had very little expectations as my form has been pretty poor in the lead up to the event — in fact I have made the decision that I will be retiring from competitive pool after our national finals next weekend.

“I have been playing pool since I was about 12 and I have been representing Scotland since 2004 so I’ve been attending International events for 10 years, three or four years ago I lost in the final of the Europeans so this has been my biggest achievement in pool.

“I don’t think there is anything bigger I could achieve in Pool, what is bigger and better than being World Champion.”