Williams is world champion

By Geet Sethi

SHEFFIELD, MAY 2. Exhibiting great application and resilience, Mark Williams overcame a 6-12 deficit to overcome ninth seed Mathew Stevens 18-16 in a dramatic finish to win the Embassy World snooker championship. The victory worth œ240,000 came in the early hours of Tuesday, after a prolonged and intriguing battle of nerves.

Stevens, who had performed with such composure and focus throughout the 17-day event, eventually succumbed to the relentless pressure applied by his opponent. He took home œ140,000 and the œ20,000 cheque for the high break prize for the 143 he compiled in the fourth frame of his semifinal victory over Ireland's Joe Swail.

It was a roller-coaster ride for most of Williams' supporters. He commenced the match somewhat subdued, showing signs of the draining efforts of his semifinal contest where he clinched a 17- 15 victory over Higgins after trailing 10-14 at one stage.

Williams has the insolent, almost defiant, look of a boxer who is sure of his own ability. Almost as if he knows he is keeping a date with destiny. Stevens is more childlike, more innocent, giving an impression of being unsure of whether he should be here in the final stages of the most important event on the snooker calendar.

As they walked down together for the concluding session to play the most significant frames of their respective careers, one could not but reflect at the contrasting manner in which they had both reached the final of the millennium's first world championship.

Stevens, after the early elimination of Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O'Sullivan, was virtually confirmed of his place in the final. His progress in the tournament justified the bookies' faith in slashing his odds to 12-1 for the title, even before he had potted a ball. He trounced Malta's Tony Drago 10-3, then outclassed Scotland's Alan McManus 13-4, dashed the hopes of the entire U.K. public by eliminating Jimmy White 13-7 before cruising into the final with a comfortable 17-12 win over compatriot Dominic Dale. Williams was in the potentially more dangerous half with 1998 world champion John Higgins scheduled to meet him in the semifinals. And even though he carved out impressive 10-4, 13-9 and 13-5 victories over John Read, Drew Hendry and Fergal O'Brien respectively, the draining effects of a hard fought 17-15 victory over World No. 1 Higgins had depleted his mental stamina and reserves.

Even so, as they commenced the final, the bookmakers' faith lay with Williams. He had after all been the most consistent campaigner this season, who had reached seven finals and converted two into titles. He was also the undisputed World No. 1 in next year's world rankings. Stevens on the other hand had won two non-ranking events - The Wembley and Regal Masters - but despite reaching the final of the U.K. championship for the last two successive years had yet to clinch a ranking title.

Though Stevens initiated a 3-1 advantage early in the first session on Sunday afternoon, Williams, who defeated Stevens to win the U.K. championship this season, rallied effectively to end the session 4-4. The second session was emphatically dominated by the 22-year-old Stevens, who recorded two centuries taking his tally of three-figure breaks in the contest to three and in the tournament to nine. Though the 10-6 advantage at the conclusion of the second session was unexpected, what was surprising was the total lack of application from Williams.

But the look of defiance combined with the insolence displayed on the table embellishes Williams with a threatening, almost menacing, quality, which in turn does instil an element of awe, even fear in the opponent. Perhaps, this look and attitude were cultivated during the years he indulged in amateur boxing. Or, perhaps deep down, the 25-year-old - extremely affable off the table - really believes that he is the best in the trade.

When he ended the third session, which commenced on Monday afternoon, trailing only 11-13, he had begun what had looked like a highly unlikely recovery. He had trailed 6-12 after Stevens took the opening two frames with a 108, his fourth century of the match.

But in winning five of the next six frames and, more importantly, by resorting to audacious and adventurous shot selection, he combined the dual task of giving his own sagging morale a boost and sowing the first seeds of doubt in Stevens. There were only two breaks of note, a 106 in the 19th frame and an 80 in the 21st, but the left-hander exhibited a variety of spectacular individual pots enroute to his five-frame winning sequence.

He played with admirable conviction to level at 14-14 with efforts of 77 and 67. For the first time since the two players were tied at 4-4, Williams had levelled scores. Stevens responded with alacrity. A flowing 120 confirming his mental fortitude and his appetite for competition.

But that was the last big break from him. With the pressure mounting, the quality of play plummeted and soon the numerous unforced errors bore stark testimony to the fragile state of their respective minds. Williams struck the ball too hard missing by wide margins, while Stevens failed to find the baulk cushion when playing safe.

It was Williams, however, who managed to control the frayed nerves and clinch the match, winning the last two frames with authority.

The results (final): Mark Williams beat Mathew Stevens 18-16 50-62, 28-84(77), 56-33, 23-103(103), 65-18, 76(57)-61, 123(123)- 0, 35-75(65), 24-64, 37-91(78), 21-59, 0-117(111), 7- 114(114), 79(59)-6, 22-73(73), 68(63)-0, 0-133(108), 48-66, 106(106)-0, 54- 55, 81(80)-0, 79-34, 71-46, 79-37, 77(77)-33, 0- 67(67), 75-6, 74(67)-0, 16-120(120), 61-13, 70-66(52), 29-60, 76(56)-8, 73-21.

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