Two-times world champion Mark Williams continued his remarkable resurgence as one of the snooker’s top stars by booking his place in the World Championship final.

Mark Williams. Picture by Monique Limbos

The Welshman is now just one win away from becoming world champion for the first time in fifteen years – his last appearance in a grand final came in 2003 when he beat Ken Doherty 18-16. His first world title came three years before when he beat Matthew Stevens by the same score.

Williams, a winner of two major ranking events this season, was behind for most of the epic semi-final against Barry Hawkins but managed to turn it around late on to clinch a memorable 17-15 win.

Both players were feeling the tension on a nervy night at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre which saw many twists and turns throughout the night with both players guilty of missed pots and loss of position.

But it was Williams who clinched the victory when a safety error from Hawkins allowed Williams to pot the final pink and black needed in one of several 30-minute plus frames during the night.

Except for Ronnie O’Sullivan, Williams has been the season’s most successful star winning the Northern Ireland Open and the German Masters in recent months. It is a remarkable resurgence of form compared to twelve months ago when he didn’t even qualify for last year’s World Championship.

Williams will meet fellow multiple world champion John Higgins who overcame a stern test from Kyren Wilson – beating him 17-13 over three days.