'Twelve months ago I wasn't even here': Mark Williams wins World Championship
Mark Williams withstood an incredible fightback from John Higgins to land his third World Championship title and become the oldest winner at the Crucible for 40 years.
The Welshman triumphed 18-16 and it was a wonder that the 43-year-old held himself together in the closing stages after a series of huge stumbles as he approached the finish line.
Higgins had roared back from 14-7 behind to level at 15-15, feasting on mistakes from his opponent, putting the Scot seemingly on the march to glory and Williams in turmoil.
🏆 @markwil147 beats John Higgins 18-16 to win the @Betfred World Championship!#ilovesnooker pic.twitter.com/FHzoEhbKvO
— WST (@WeAreWST) May 7, 2018
But back came Williams, and a century break to go one frame away from victory suggested his nerves had settled.
But at the moment when he stood on the very brink of victory, Williams twitched, missing a pink that was match ball. Higgins had not expected another chance but came back to the table and cleared up with a 65 break, vintage snooker from the four-time champion.
Williams needed another chance and gave himself one early in the next frame. This time Williams made no mistake, a break of 69 leaving Higgins needing three snookers. This time Higgins was beaten, but he had played his part in one of the greatest Crucible finals.
Much has changed...
— WST (@WeAreWST) May 7, 2018
🏆 2000
🏆 2003
🏆 2018@markwil147 beats Higgins 18-16 to win his third world title - 15 years after his last!#ilovesnooker @Betfred pic.twitter.com/ZCAngQ9MkZ
Ray Reardon was 45 when he won in 1978, and his fellow Welshman Williams is the oldest man to get to grips with the trophy since.
Williams, previously champion in 2000 and 2003, lost to Grimsby’s Stuart Carrington in the final round of qualifying last year.
He spent the time he would have been in Sheffield “away in my caravan, getting drunk and watching it on TV”, even missing the tournament’s 40th anniversary celebrations for which he was the only absent living winner.
Now he has his sport’s most coveted trophy again.
He led 10-7 overnight and soon stretched that to 14-7, Higgins potting just 31 points over the four frames.
At that stage the Welshman had a slim chance of winning with a session to spare, but Higgins had other ideas and won three of the afternoon’s remaining four frames to narrow his arrears to 15-10.
Higgins first won the title 20 years ago, and he dearly wanted to move level with Ronnie O’Sullivan, who has remained stuck on five Crucible triumphs since 2013.
Williams, who as a teenager was a keen amateur boxer, looked stricken but bounced back off the ropes, stopping the rot by nudging back in front and then firing a break of exactly 100 to move one away from victory.
Huge twists were still to come but Williams got the job done.
watched it in a caravan. To play John in a final is an experience in itself. I’m over the moon.”
Williams thanked wife Joanne for convincing him to keep playing when he
contemplated quitting last year.
And after saying earlier in the tournament that he would go naked to his press
conference if he won the title, Williams walked into his press conference undressed apart from a towel.
The world snooker champion pic.twitter.com/l4R6beCHbl
— John Skilbeck (@JohnESkilbeck) May 7, 2018
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