In an electrifying semifinal clash, 50-year-old Mark Williams of Wales overcame England’s Judd Trump 17-14 to secure his place in the World Snooker Championship final in Sheffield, England.
Williams, a three-time world champion, found himself trailing 7-3 early in the match. Demonstrating resilience, he narrowed the gap to 10-9 and then seized control by winning four of the next five frames with impressive breaks of 73, 84, and 62, leading 13-11 heading into the evening session.
The veteran player extended his lead to 15-11 with breaks of 67 and 65. However, Trump, the world number one, fought back with his 106th century of the season, narrowing the deficit. Williams responded with a century of his own, putting him just one frame away from victory.
Refusing to back down, Trump took the 29th frame and continued his momentum in the 30th. A missed opportunity by Williams allowed Trump to clear the table with a brilliant 116, bringing the score to 16-14.
In a tense 31st frame, Trump had a chance to force a decider but missed a challenging thin black after potting a superb red. Seizing the moment, Williams delivered a stunning clearance of 123 to clinch the match.
"I was starting to twitch towards the end, I’m not going to lie," Williams admitted after the match. "I nearly missed the black in the last frame—I did feel a bit of tension on the back arm. I’m never normally nervous at any stage, but I was in that break. I can’t believe I’m in another final—I don’t know how I’m doing it, to be honest."
With this victory, Williams becomes the oldest finalist in the tournament’s history. He will face 28-year-old Zhao Xintong of China in the final on Sunday, marking his fifth appearance in the championship decider.
