Williams beats Higgins to become world champion

Mark Williams withstood an incredible fightback from John Higgins to land his third Betfred World Championship title – and then stripped off in celebration.

The Welshman became the oldest winner at the Crucible for 40 years and came good on his promise to hold his press conference naked – although he wore a towel to protect his modesty.

Williams was roared into the media room and said: “Cold in here, isn’t it!”

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.

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.

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.

Now he has his sport’s most coveted trophy again.

And despite describing the Crucible theatre as a “s**t hole” just six years ago and suggesting the World Championship should move to China, Williams was plainly thrilled to be king of snooker’s most famous arena once again.

He led 10-7 overnight and soon stretched that to 14-7, Higgins potting just 31 points over the four frames.

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.

He started his evening’s work with a 131 break, his fourth century of the match, swept in a 67 clearance in the next frame and then an 82 to close to 15-13. The 42-year-old from Wishaw swept through the next two frames too, and incredibly he was level.

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.

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.