World Snooker Championship latest – live updates from John Higgins v Mark Williams
- John Higgins takes on Mark Williams in World Snooker Championship final
- Best-of-35 contest starts at 2pm on Sunday
- Higgins is looking to win his fifth world title, Mark Williams has won twice
- Williams involved in row ahead of the final with fellow pro Darren Morgan
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Higgins, 42, or Williams, 43, will be the oldest winner since Ray Reardon. He was 45 when he won in 1978
Latest score – John Higgins 0 Mark Williams 2
Players are out
The Crucible are on their feet to welcome Higgins and Williams to the arena. They pose for pictures before Williams breaks up for the epic best-of-35 contest.Early drama when, somewhat predictably, a phone goes off from one fan. We’re underway and the score updates are above.
Higgins insists he’s not favourite
John Higgins was tucked up in bed when Mark Williams beat Barry Hawkins at just before midnight last night
Ahead of the clash he said: “I don’t feel like the favourite. It will be another mammoth final and a great match.
“It has been a proud 20 years after winning my first one and now I am getting ready to compete in another one. It is a fantastic feeling.
“It will be extra special playing Mark. He has won it twice before and I am going for my fifth. He is bald, I am grey, so it will be a mental final.”
Mark Williams row ahead of final
Mark Williams has been embroiled in a snooker row ahead of his World Championship final.
The Welshman has the chance to win his third world title after beating Barry Hawkins 17-15 to book a meeting with John Higgins.
But the build-up has been overshadowed by a row which has been brewing between Williams and fellow player Darren Morgan.
The pair have a frosty relationship and they recently clashed during the Welsh Open in February.
Things escalated this week when Morgan was this week banned for 12 months by the Rhymney Valley Snooker League after refusing to compete in a singles final against Jackson Page.
Morgan forfeited because the final was to be played on Page’s practice table at Williams’ snooker club.
Morgan wrote on Facebook: “By me forfeiting the final to my opponent for refusing to play him on his everyday practice table they have seemed fit to ban me for 12 months which rounded the day [his birthday] off perfectly.”
Rhymney Valley Snooker League insist Williams was not involved in the decision to ban Morgan.
But Morgan hit back and said: “He can deny it all he wants and say what he wants.
“I took a lot of flack at the Welsh Open when I called him a keyboard warrior and a cyber bully, but for whatever reason he has against me, he can’t let up.”
