Summary

  • 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

Live Reporting

Michael Emons

  1. 100 runs

    Higgins still fighting and makes fantastic century

    Frame 26: John Higgins 11-15 Mark Williams (131-1, Higgins 131)

    One down, seven more to go for John Higgins. Thought this final was going to be a formality tonight? Well, nobody told Higgins.

    He makes a stunning clearance of 131 after that missed black from Williams proved costly. That is the Scot's fourth century of this final after 119 in frame five, 127 in frame 11 and 117 in frame 14.

    He has also knocked in breaks of 67, 72, 80 and now 131 in four of the past five frames.

    Don't go anywhere. This could well be a brilliant, dramatic night of snooker.

  2. Frame 26: John Higgins 10-15 Mark Williams (first to 18)

    The Higgins break is up to 43, and he's still going.

  3. Get Involved #bbcsnooker

    Frame 26: John Higgins 10-15 Mark Williams (first to 18)

    Lee Shields: There is nothing like the Final Session of the #WorldSnookerChampionship at #TheCrucible. Sporting drama, skill and entertainment at its finest!

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  4. Frame 26: John Higgins 10-15 Mark Williams (first to 18)

    The reds are spread out and John Higgins is looking to do some damage. He needs a good start tonight and may well be getting it. 21-1

  5. Frame 26: John Higgins 10-15 Mark Williams (first to 18)

    Williams pots a red, but leaves the black ball hanging over the corner pocket. 0-1

  6. 'What an atmosphere'

    Frame 26: John Higgins 10-15 Mark Williams (first to 18)

    Ken Doherty
    1997 world champion on BBC Two

    I don't know how the boys are feeling but the hairs on the back of my neck are standing up. What an atmosphere in here with two great champions battling it out.

  7. Frame 26: John Higgins 10-15 Mark Williams (first to 18)

    An early loosener from Mark Williams. He is given a sighter at a long red after Higgins' break shot, but misses it by miles.

  8. Frame 26: John Higgins 10-15 Mark Williams (first to 18)

    Our players are in the arena, the fans are in their seats. This could be a very special evening of snooker. Let's go.

  9. Get Involved #bbcsnooker

    Frame 25: John Higgins 10-15 Mark Williams (first to 18)

    Yousaf: Here we go. This should be an exciting climax. Come on John Higgins, if he wins from here it will be the greatest comeback i can remember. Been behind all match.

    Dr James Pope: John Higgins is eight frames from a sensational victory from behind. Mark Williams is three frames from a press conference in the nude. Good luck gents, make it a cracking evening!

    Daniel Hutchinson: Settling down for The Snooker World Championship Final. Going to be tough for Higgins to come back but you never know at The Crucible - final session. Hope it goes all the way.

  10. The story so far...

    Frame 25: John Higgins 10-15 Mark Williams (first to 18)

    • Williams took the first four frames (0-4)
    • Higgins won three of the last four on Sunday afternoon (3-5)
    • Higgins won four of the first six in the Sunday evening session (7-7)
    • Williams took the last three frames of Sunday evening (7-10)
    • Williams won the first four frames today (7-14)
    • Higgins then won three in a row (10-14)
    • Williams won the last frame of the afternoon session (10-15)

  11. Live now

    BBC Two

    We are live on BBC Two. Press the play button at the top to join Hazel and the rest of the team.

    Hazel Irvine.

  12. Ready?

    Welcome back.

    Can John Higgins, who has been as many as seven frames behind, pull off a great recovery and become the world champion for a fifth time or will Mark Williams, who leads 15-10, become a three-time Crucible winner?

    Mark WilliamsGetty Images

  13. Back at 18:55 BST

    Frame 25: John Higgins 10-15 Mark Williams (first to 18)

    We will be back at 18:55 BST for all the action from the final session. Are we set for a dramatic conclusion to the final? Come back in a couple of hours and you will find out.

  14. Williams closing in on third world title - read the report

    Frame 25: John Higgins 10-15 Mark Williams (first to 18)

    Shamoon Hafez
    BBC Sport at the Crucible Theatre

    Mark Williams needs three more frames to claim his third World Championship title after opening up a 15-10 lead over John Higgins in the final.

    Welshman Williams, 43, led 10-7 overnight and won the first four frames on Monday to take a sizeable lead. Higgins, 42, hit back to make it 14-10, but Williams' 44 break in the 25th frame ensured a formidable cushion heading into the final session.

    The best-of-35 match resumes at 19:00 BST live on BBC Two.

    The winner will receive the trophy and a record £425,000 in prize money at Sheffield's Crucible Theatre.

    Both players are aiming to become the oldest world champion since Ray Reardon aged 45 in 1978, although Williams is now heavy favourite to claim his first world title since 2003.

  15. Get Involved #bbcsnooker

    Frame 25: John Higgins 10-15 Mark Williams (first to 18)

    Martin Warren: Think that last frame for Mark Williams was crucial to win.. I can’t see him losing a 15-10 lead, will be amazed if John Higgins came back.

    Alicia Brunskill: Looking forward to this evening’s session of the snooker final. Glad it wasn’t all done in the afternoon session.

    Steven Hiscott: Fantastic performance from Mark Williams he is certainly rolling back the years.

  16. 'Mark steadied the ship very well'

    Frame 25: John Higgins 10-15 Mark Williams (first to 18)

    Steve Davis
    Six-time world champion on BBC Two

    That final frame was huge and Mark steadied the ship very well. He will be relieved to have won that.

    John Higgins will come out with another push and see what happens and perhaps if he gets a fluke at the start of the session like Mark did this afternoon, you never know.

  17. Williams three from the title

    Frame 25: John Higgins 10-15 Mark Williams (8-78, Williams 44 and 34)

    And that is the end of a thrilling third session of this final. Mark Williams began it with a 10-7 lead and ends it with a 15-10 advantage after taking five of the eight frames.

    The Welshman is three frames away from winning the world title for the first time since 2003.

  18. Frame 25: John Higgins 10-14 Mark Williams (first to 18)

    A tough red into the middle sees Mark Williams lose position. He tries to save the situation, using the rest on the black, but it stays in the jaws of the pocket. But Higgins then misses a red and Williams should wrap this one up now. 8-50

  19. 'My heart is leaping for joy'

    Frame 25: John Higgins 10-14 Mark Williams (first to 18)

    Alan McManus
    Former Masters champion on BBC Two

    The standard is unbelievable. My heart is leaping for joy watching this.

  20. Frame 25: John Higgins 10-14 Mark Williams (first to 18)

    Mark Williams is at the table, holding a 33-8 lead, but a few of the reds are close to the cushions so work for him to do.