Snooker: Williams displays nerves of steel to reclaim world title

Mark Williams thwarted another astonishing comeback by Ken Doherty to win the World Championship, 18-16, in a dramatic late finish to an epic final here last night.

Victory meant that the 28-year-old Welshman, who took the title in 2000, matched Steve Davis and Stephen Hendry both by winning the tournament here more than once and by securing snooker's triple crown of the UK Championship, the UK Masters and world title in the same season.

"I'm over the moon, I can't believe it," Williams said. "Ken put me under so much pressure out there. Normally I'm quite good in situations like that but the way he kept coming back, I almost bottled it. At one stage I was absolutely terrified. I thought I was going to lose it."

Doherty had already staged two big revivals earlier in the tournament, not least in his astonishing semi-final when he clawed back from 9-15 and then 14-16 to beat Paul Hunter 17-16. After trailing Williams 2-10 at one stage on Sunday, the Irishman fought back yesterday to 12-12 and then from 14-16 to 16-all.

"I think it was instinct that got me over the line, to be honest," Williams said of the last two frames. Doherty said: "As long as there's hope I never give up. At the last I didn't really get a chance. It's tough, I wanted to go home with the cup. But it was a great match."

Indeed it was. Doherty rose yesterday 11-5 behind but at least claiming a good night's sleep. It must have been some bed. He won the first six frames of the afternoon. Icy resolve, essential for nipping in and building small but significant breaks, was just part of it. His potting was measured, pinpoint, unrelentingly accurate. Williams' poise, in the afternoon at least, showed cracks. He missed pots, his safety was not safe, he dithered over his options. His composure, as he admitted, was shot.

The match's 18th frame was the afternoon in microcosm. Williams hit a break of 28, ran out of options and played safe. Doherty, ever deft, picked off a long red from the pack, scored nine, then retreated to safety. Williams, sensing he needed to rattle the sniper, broke the pack but left nothing obvious.

Doherty, eagle-eyed and laser sharp, sank a long red, scored 12 and retreated. Williams missed a long red. Doherty stole in for a break of 26 and then took the white into hiding. Williams missed. Doherty came back for 15, leaving Williams needing more points than available. This was genuine snooker.

The 19th frame saw Doherty confidently scatter the pack and then make an accomplished break of 128, his first century of the final and the tournament's 50th. The turning point in the next frame saw Williams miss a straightforward pink. Doherty capitalised for 11-9 and then took the next two for 11-11.

In the next frame it was Doherty who erred, going in-off at a crucial stage, allowing Williams in for a frame-winning 23 that must have felt like a ton. 12-11. Doherty responded with a magnificent, clinical, round-the-table clearance of 115. He headed for dinner and Williams went back to his hotel for a game of cards.

Four cagey frames made it 14-14 before a break. Williams was counselled by his mentor, Terry Griffiths, and emerged to make breaks of 121 and then 65. Doherty responded with a 64 and a cool 112 for 16-16. Williams scrapped for 17-16 and then took the last with a 39 and a 77. It seemed almost comfortable. As if.

EMBASSY WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP (The Crucible, Sheffield) Final: M Williams (Wal) bt K Doherty (Rep Irl) 18-16. Frame scores (Williams first): 60-37, 82-55, 0-97, 73-29, 86-30, 82-12, 74-30, 75-56, 24-85, 118-4, 76-1, 101-0, 0-79, 69-70, 75-0, 51-60, 10-73, 31-62, 6-128, 17-61, 49-82, 39-70, 68-41, 0-115, 62-19, 23-98, 87-0, 45-78, 121-0, 77-0, 17-68, 9-120, 96-28, 120-0.