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

    This is the last frame of the session and we will have a maximum of 10 frames tonight. The first to 18 is the champion.

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

    Mark Williams has gifted John Higgins eight points in this 15th frame, the second foul saw him going in-off. 8-6

  3. 'Where are the youngsters?'

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

    World Snooker chairman Barry Hearn on BBC Radio 5 live: "There’s joy in heaven for all us over 40s. I suppose it asks questions about the youngsters and where are they.

    "You wonder have they gone soft these younger boys? We’re seeing some top quality matchplay played from Higgins and Williams with all the intensity the Crucible brings.

    "The youngsters are not having the consistency and matchplay techniques we are seeing from the older players, it’s a very interesting scenario."

    Barry HearnGetty Images

  4. Get Involved #bbcsnooker

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

    Jon: This is intense immense snooker at the World Snooker Championship. Hell of a dig deep fightback from John Higgins. What a battler. Superb calling from @alan_mcmanus and @jvofficialjv adding to the experience. @BBCSnooker gripping final.

    Angryoldman: They thought it was all over! It's not now!

    Dr James Pope: Mark Williams has been excellent, but what bottle, guts and grit John Higgins has to keep fighting and pushing this final on. Exceptional!

  5. Jinxed it

    Shamoon Hafez
    BBC Sport at the Crucible Theatre

    There was great excitement with each pot on that maximum 147 effort from Higgins in the previous frame.

    But he broke down just as someone asked "will this be the 11th at the Crucible?"

    Stephen Hendry's effort in 2012 remains the last.

  6. 'Williams has entered the mad house'

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

    Steve Davis
    Six-time world champion on BBC Two

    John Higgins has the temperament to play in the moment and forget the scoreline. He unravelled a bit in the first session but he has so much pride, ability and doggedness.

    Williams has entered the mad house. Thinking about the pot that went wrong when he hit the table in the 23rd frame, he knew that was an opportunity and that Higgins wasn't out of the match.

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

    This has been a crazy afternoon of snooker and we have one more frame in this session. If Higgins wins it it will mean the score is 14-11 to Williams before tonight's session.

    We may still have a game on after all when this looked like Williams was cruising to the title.

  8. Maximum chance ends at 80, but Higgins wins another frame

    Frame 24: John Higgins 10-14 Mark Williams (80-0, Higgins 80)

    Ten reds, ten blacks but that is the end of the break as the 11th red stays out. We have never seen a maximum in a Crucible final, and that still remains.

    But that break of 80 means the gap is now down to four frames. Higgins had scored 31 points in four frames in the first half of this session and has now made breaks of 67, 72 and 80 in the last three frames.

  9. Frame 24: John Higgins 9-14 Mark Williams (first to 18)

    And another red. That should be the frame done. The maximum is still on though for Higgins.

  10. Frame 24: John Higgins 9-14 Mark Williams (first to 18)

    The break looks over. A double on the red is on, and he makes it. Nine reds, nine blacks. A maximum is still a possibility.

  11. Frame 24: John Higgins 9-14 Mark Williams (first to 18)

    Eight reds, eight blacks.

  12. Frame 24: John Higgins 9-14 Mark Williams (first to 18)

    Alan McManus
    Former Masters champion on BBC Two

    I think John has decided to go for everything now. He doesn't do half-measures.

  13. Frame 24: John Higgins 9-14 Mark Williams (first to 18)

    That is now seven reds, seven blacks. A maximum in a Crucible final?

  14. Frame 24: John Higgins 9-14 Mark Williams (first to 18)

    A superb thin cut means John Higgins is still there. Are we going to see three frames in a row?

  15. Frame 24: John Higgins 9-14 Mark Williams (first to 18)

    Higgins is up to 41, but needs something special on the black to stay at the table. 41-0

  16. Watch: Higgins pots vital red and black in the last frame

    Frame 24: John Higgins 9-14 Mark Williams (first to 18)

    John Higgins made a superb clearance in the last frame, and this is how it got started with a long red and a cut on the black shooting into a blind pocket.

  17. Get Involved #bbcsnooker

    Frame 24: John Higgins 9-14 Mark Williams (first to 18)

    Dame Nellie Pledge: Let's hope John wins next two then we will have a cracking game tonight! Barbecue now on hold.

  18. Frame 24: John Higgins 9-14 Mark Williams (first to 18)

    A Mark Williams mistake at the start of the 24th, and he is starting to look a bit flustered. Can John Higgins build on his last two frames, and that stunning clearance to snatch the 23rd frame? A red and a black for the Scot are a good start.

  19. 'Mark is still in the driving seat'

    Frame 23: John Higgins 9-14 Mark Williams (first to 18)

    Steve Davis
    Six-time world champion on BBC Two

    Mark knows he's still in the driving seat but there's the possibility if John can win the next two frames, there's a match on this evening.

  20. 'What an effort'

    Frame 23: John Higgins 9-14 Mark Williams (first to 18)

    John Parrott
    1991 world champion on BBC Two

    Where has this come from? I don't know what he did during the interval because John Higgins was gone. It didn't look like he had anything left and was running on empty.