John Higgins and Mark Williams will be rolling back the years when they lock horns in this weekend’s World Championship final – the biggest match on the snooker calendar.
With 50 world ranking wins between them and a combined six world titles to their names, this is a clash of two of the sport’s all-time greats – with a guaranteed feast of snooker spanning across four sessions ahead of us.
Both of these legends of the game turned professional back in 1992 and here they are still competing on the biggest stage of all 26 years later. They have more than two decades of memories and experience at the Crucible to call upon in this big final as they look to strengthen their already rich legacies in the game.
For the bookmakers’ favourite Higgins, he is searching for a fifth world title from seven finals to tie level with Ronnie O’Sullivan. He was a beaten finalist to Mark Selby a year ago, won his first way back in 1998 and his last in 2011.
For Williams, this will be his fourth final and his first since 2003 when he won the last of two titles after his first in 2000.
A lot has changed in the game since these two first burst onto the scene and started challenging for silverware but their longevity at the top shows us again that class is permanent. Both of them are playing as good as they have for many years and are right up there among the best players in the world at the moment.
This is a popular match-up among the snooker world and promises to deliver a gripping final but once again begs the question as to where the game’s new stars are. The changing of the guard at the top of the sport has been staved off for another year in a season where Higgins, Williams and O’Sullivan will have won 10 ranking titles between them by tomorrow night.
Two Crucible Kings collide in the final of the @Betfred World Championship, with John Higgins and Mark Williams going head to head on the biggest stage of them all!
You do NOT want to miss this! đ #ilovesnooker
What these guys have that it appears their younger challengers lack right is the bottle to deliver when the pressure is at its most intense. This is arguably Higgins’ greatest strength and for Williams he has the best temperament the game has ever seen. All the top players can make big breaks and pull off great pots – but these boys do it when it really matters most.
We saw this in the semi-finals as both came through gruelling ties. Higgins shook off a persistent Kyren Wilson who is one of the younger generation who does look like he could have what it takes to eventually reach the very top.
Williams was embroiled in a dramatic late-night tussle to overcome Barry Hawkins after trailing for long spells of the match.
Both showed great character and look right up for the fight. With this in mind, you’d expect this final to go to the wire too, but you have to think that first session could be key for Williams. He’ll be looking to stay in the match early. While he was still addressing the press at gone midnight last night, Higgins was tucked up in bed after wrapping up his win in the afternoon and is almost certain to be the fresher of the two when the first cue ball is struck this afternoon.
Sit back and enjoy the show! This one could be epic.
