JOHN Higgins was denied a fifth Betfred World Snooker Championship title by Mark Williams’ naked ambition but with the fire burning brighter than ever, the Scot has vowed to return next year and take revenge.
Higgins was on the brink of losing with a session to spare at 14-7 behind but rallied in spectacular style at The Crucible – taking eight of the next nine frames to level the match at 15-15.
However, Williams found something deep within himself to grind out the three frames he needed to triumph 18-16 and, at 43 years old, become
the oldest world champion since his fellow Welshman Ray Reardon in 1978.
True to a promise he made earlier in the tournament, the now three-time world champion conducted his post-match press conference completely naked, save for a strategically placed Betfred towel to cover his modesty.
Higgins, aged 42, took the combined age of the two world finalists to the highest in tournament history and the fact they both turned professional together back in 1992 only added to the intrigue – culminating in one of the most exciting and dramatic finals in recent memory.
The Wishaw potter claims he is addicted to the unique Crucible atmosphere, although the disappointment as he finished as runner-up for the second year in a row was palpable.
“When you’re rivals like me and Mark, you can’t really be friends because he’s winning most of the titles you’re after,” explained Higgins.
“But that has never stopped me having an unbelievable amount of respect for him as a player. We’re getting to the twilight of our careers and it was a dream to play someone like Mark in another final.
“The atmosphere in there was incredible, a great feeling and an
unbelievable arena to play snooker in. You live for these moments but I just came up short. It’s heartbreaking to lose two finals in a row but the fire hasn’t gone out.
“This game is like a drug and that atmosphere tonight, that one-table set-up – if I never sample it again at least I can say I’ve done it a few times. It’s amazing. In the last two years I’ve got to the two finals, so there’s no reason for me to fall away. Surely I can come back next year and give a good fist of it again.”
From 7-7, Higgins lost the final three frames of Sunday evening’s session and his poor run continued into Monday afternoon.
Williams took complete control and breaks of 61, 56, 69 and 52 helped him win all four frames before the mid-session interval – while the Scot scored just 31 points – to lead 14-7.
But Higgins spared himself the ignominy of defeat with a session to spare as a gritty run of 67 handed him frame 22 before knocks of 72
and 80 closed the gap even further, to 14-10.
Williams stopped the rot and had a healthy 15-10 advantage heading into the evening, only for Higgins to level proceedings at 15-15 thanks to breaks of 131, 67, 82, 52 and 62, often after the Welshman had got in first.
Having lost eight of the previous nine frames, the world No.7 could have crumbled but instead he grittily made contributions of 41 and 33 to move back ahead at 16-15 before nervelessly edging within one of victory thanks to a break of 100.
He missed a pink to seal the title in the next, as Higgins pinched the frame with a run of 65 but quickly put that out of his head and produced arguably the most important break of his career – a 69 – to seal an 18-16 win and a third world title, 15 years after his last.
And he paid tribute to Higgins for helping produce a truly incredible final.
“I’m over the moon – what a match to be involved in,” said Williams.
“I missed an easy pink to win it and I don’t know where that break in the last frame came from – it’s probably one the greatest breaks under pressure I’ve ever had in my life.
“What an occasion. To play John in The Crucible in the final is an unbelievable occasion and I’m so glad I won.
“He’s the best I’ve ever seen at clearing up when he’s 50 or 60 behind – he’s different class. You can put Stephen Hendry or Ronnie O’Sullivan in that category as well because John is just a different animal when he’s behind.
“I can’t believe I beat him really because he’s one of the best there has ever been.”
Watch the snooker World Championship LIVE on Eurosport and Eurosport Player with Colin Murray and analysis from Ronnie O’Sullivan, Jimmy White and Neal Foulds
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