Mark Williams has pledged to put his close friendship with Matthew Stevens on hold when the pair contest the first all-Welsh Embassy World Championship final at the Crucible Theatre. Williams produced an amazing comeback to win his semi-final with 1998 champion John Higgins, reeling off six frames in a row after he had trailed 15-11. It left Higgins feeling totally shell-shocked and admitting that he had bottled the final session.
Williams will be a red-hot favourite to overcome Stevens, who had held off a spirited challenge from rank outsider Joe Swail to reach his first world final. The duo practice together on the green baize and also play golf - but that friendship will be forgotten for the next 48 hours, during the best of 35 frames final.
"I thought Matthew would have won a ranking tournament by now and it cannot be too far away - but hopefully not until next season!" Williams said. "He will probably be the underdog based on the rankings, but that counts for nothing these days with so many excellent players around - and he is one of them."
"We are good pals and to have two Welsh players in the final is fantastic," Williams added. "But we will not be best mates for the next two days. For the next two days I can't stand the bloke! I beat him in the UK Championships final earlier in the season and I expect he will be gunning for me."
Williams has the incentive of wanting to win his first world title and the chance to extend his lead over John Higgins in the ranking points table.
"I will be looking to play like I did in the final session against John Higgins over the two days, but whether I'm good or bad, I'll still keep fighting away," he said. "The good thing is, whatever happens, it's great that the trophy and title is going back to Wales."
John Higgins held his hand up after throwing away his 15-11 advantage against Williams, who had also defeated him in last season's world semi-final. The player known as the Wizard of Wishaw temporarily lost his magic wand – and an inspirational Williams needed no second invitation to cash in.
"I had chances, but I bottled it," Higgins admitted. "At 15-14 I had two good chances and my mind just wasn't there. I was a bottle merchant on this occasion. At 14-10 I felt in control. I should have had it in the bag after the afternoon session."
For his part, Stevens admitted that he will achieve a long held ambition when he aims to overcome the odds against Williams.
"Ever since I have been a player, it's always been my dream to walk through the curtains at the Crucible on finals day," he said. "It must be a magical feeling and I'm just glad I'm going to have the chance to experience that. I feel confident I can go all the way." Stevens accepts that most people will be expecting Williams to win, but he says that he has been playing well for the last fortnight.
"I've had a great season. I want to finish it off by winning the world championship," he said.
PA Sport
