Wales' Mark Williams wins third world title at age 43
Williams beats John Higgins 18-16 in classic final
Oldest champion since 45-year-old Ray Reardon in 1978
As promised attends news conference naked apart from a towel
Williams won his other world titles in 2000 and 2003
Frame 19: John Higgins 7-12 Mark Williams (first to 18)
Stephen Hendry
Seven-time world champion on BBC Two
It is quite remarkable to think it is 15 years since Mark Williams last played in the final.
I think he is looking stronger today than yesterday. Sometimes looking ahead to the winning line can make you go into your shell and play defensively but there's been no sign of that at all.
Frame 19: John Higgins 7-12 Mark Williams (19-73, Williams 56)
Remember when this was 7-7? John Higgins was in great form and had won four of the last five frames, but he has not won one since.
That is five in a row for Williams, two out of two today and a 12-7 lead.
It is getting close to being a mountain too high for Higgins to climb.
Frame 19: John Higgins 7-11 Mark Williams (first to 18)
We are getting close to crisis time for Higgins. Williams, for the first time in this match, is closing in on a five-frame lead. 19-59
2017 World Snooker Championship
Will John Higgins be a losing finalist at this event for the second time in two years?
Last year's final saw Mark Selby beat Higgins 18-15 in a thrilling final to win the World Championship for the third time in four years.
The world number one is only the fourth player after Steve Davis, Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O'Sullivan to claim back-to-back titles in the modern era.
Watch the moment Selby clinched third world title
Frame 19: John Higgins 7-11 Mark Williams (first to 18)
Paul Savage: Some absolutely outstanding potting from Mark Williams this afternoon, no one more deserving than him to win this after his season.
Aaron Doherty: Nothing going right at all for Higgins, 11-7 down, missing shots he hasn’t missed in the last two weeks.
Frame 19: John Higgins 7-11 Mark Williams (first to 18)
The pair have shared fouls in the early stages of frame 19, before a two-ball plant works for Williams. 19-18
Frame 19: John Higgins 7-11 Mark Williams (first to 18)
Shamoon Hafez
BBC Sport at the Crucible Theatre
There has already been a mention in the press room as to whether Mark Williams will win this match with a session to spare.
Gone VERY early with that one.
Frame 19: John Higgins 7-11 Mark Williams (first to 18)
This was the lucky start to Mark Williams' break of 61 in the opening frame of today, which the Welshman clinched to take an 11-7 lead.
Frame 19: John Higgins 7-11 Mark Williams (first to 18)
Another bad miss from Higgins. A long red stays out, and he's left one on. This could be bad news for the Scot. 19-6
Frame 19: John Higgins 7-11 Mark Williams (first to 18)
Martin Clarke: No way Higgins is winning this match.
PJ Coogan: Don't think I've ever seen Mark Williams striking the ball so well. Higgins will make him work for it, but I'll be surprised if he isn't world champion champion by 10.00 tonight.
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Frame 19: John Higgins 7-11 Mark Williams (first to 18)
Higgins needs his best game, he doesn't need an early miss in the 19th. On this occasion it doesn't come back to haunt him as Williams misses a red but leaves the cue ball safe. 15-0
Frame 18: John Higgins 7-11 Mark Williams (first to 18)
Stephen Hendry
Seven-time world champion on BBC Two
That's pretty impressive. It means you are cueing straight if you can pot balls with your eyes shut. No normal player would do it but if your set-up is right it shouldn't make a difference but he wouldn't do it if the shot really mattered.
Williams has made a very good start. He hasn't looked in the slightest bit nervous. He isn't showing any sign of easing off. John Higgins is going to have to play his very best to win this title.
Frame 18: John Higgins 7-11 Mark Williams (first to 18)
Yesterday we saw Mark Williams pot a pink ball with his eyes closed, and, with the frame in the bag, he repeats his party trick by downing the red without looking at the table.
Image source, .Frame 18: John Higgins 7-11 Mark Williams (first to 18)
John Parrott
1991 world champion on BBC Two
John Higgins would have been hoping to win this mini-session to close the gap and will be sickened not to have had a chance to pot a few balls because of that Williams fluke at the start of the frame.
Frame 18: John Higgins 7-11 Mark Williams (5-98, Williams 61 and 37)
He has led 4-0 and 5-1 and now Mark Williams has a four-frame advantage again. A fortunate red started him off, but from then on his break of 61 was wonderful. Another run of 37 took him over the line and that is another step closer to the title.
We have another seven frames in this session and Williams will become world champion with a session to spare if he takes them all.
Frame 18: John Higgins 7-10 Mark Williams (first to 18)
A pacy red into the middle from Williams and that will be that for this frame.
Frame 18: John Higgins 7-10 Mark Williams (first to 18)
Mind-in-Requiem: I don't know why people are tweeting saying "are we going to see an epic come back from John Higgins" he's three frames behind, that is absolutely nothing, it's still anyone's tournament to win. I still think this will go right down to the wire.
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Frame 18: John Higgins 7-10 Mark Williams (first to 18)
That should be the frame, but not yet. A break of 61 for Williams after that fortunate opener. Higgins comes to the table with six reds on the table and a lot of work to do to avoid falling four frames behind once more. 0-61
Frame 18: John Higgins 7-10 Mark Williams (first to 18)
That lucky start is helping Williams on his way to taking the opening frame of the day.
Frame 18: John Higgins 7-10 Mark Williams (first to 18)
Maybe it's going to be Mark Williams' day. He certainly gets a lucky start, shooting the red in the top right pocket, only for it to miss, but to go diagonally down the table into the yellow-ball pocket. 0-1
Williams flukes a red in final