An incredible finish to last night’s semi-final has set up a 12bet.com UK Championship semi-final between two of snooker’s all time greats.
Mark Williams must be wondering how he has made it this far. When Shaun Murphy upped his game to move from 6-3 down to lead 8-6 the Welshman looked set for defeat.
But cometh the hour, cometh the man. Williams suddenly started knocking in the long balls and drew level.
The last red of the decider, potted from distance, was a worthy ball to win any match and for Williams to keep his cool in such a situation proves just what a great player he is.
So it’s Higgins v Williams for the UK title, just as it was ten years ago when Higgins prevailed 10-4.
What does it say about snooker that the same two players could make the final a decade on?
Well, the real question should be what does it say about these two? And the answer is that they are still, on their day, ahead of the pack, as that other member of the class of 1992, Ronnie O’Sullivan can also be.
What these three have is not just the skill and experience but also the class to kill matches off.
Like any major final, today’s Telford burn-up will be a test of skill, heart and nerve. Higgins and Williams have all three in spades.
They are each gunning for a third UK title. Higgins won the tournament in 1998 and 2000, Williams in 1999 and 2002.
For Williams it would be his first ranking title in the UK since the 2003 LG Cup.
For Higgins it would bring the curtain down on the most tumultuous year of his life in upbeat fashion and restore him to top spot in the rankings.
For snooker fans it should be a real treat.
34 comments:
Amazing match last night. It was like a fairy tale. How on earth did he pull that off??
Can he take the trophy and avoid making a single century in the tournament? I won't bet against him for sure.
Fantastic climax to this tournament...the quarter finals and semi finals were all fantastic. I am looking forward to this final. I think that if Higgins plays to his semi-final standard, he could win the match comfortably...then again...Williams may start knocking the pots in and increase the pressure on his opponent. I am just going to enjoy this one and hope that the final is a classic!
I don't care what sport it is you couldn't possibly have more excitement than what we all witnessed last night. Pure unadulterated theatre. How Mark could stand up to get to the table or stop the cue shaking and go on to win the last 3 frames, after that barrage of scoring by Murphy,is so hard to comprehend.
If you could bottle Mark's inner strength and temperament you would be a multi-millionaire. Just like Alex before him, Mark has the heart of a lion.
Big thanks to both Mark and Shaun for such wonderment - I was in tears at the end and would never be afraid to admit it. I'm in no doubt Mark will be champion today.
Higgins will probably win. Williams however did win ranking event this year. PTC 1. Im sure PTC counts as a ranking event even though it is a minor.
This is the second time in the space of 5 seasons there has been a 35 years old+ UK final line-up — Hendry and Ebdon were 37 and 36 in 2006. In fact, the UK has become something of a seniors event over the last decade — every final over the last ten years bar one (in 2004) has featured a player over 30.
Also, regardless of who wins this means that one of Ronnie, Higgins, and Williams have won at least one of the three majors every calender year since 1997. Whoever wins this will also become the first player of the modern era (I think!) to win majors in three different decades...
Betty, Hendry won tournaments in 3 decades
So did Jimmy
Please keep up Betty......
Maybe Betty meant the same event, which I think would be correct
Majors - World, UK, Masters - so Jimmy and Hendry haven't.
If "majors" = World Champs/UK Champs/Masters, then neither White nor Hendry has won them in three different decades.
I love the way Willie Thorne came to the conclusion this afternoon that because Williams hasn't made a century during the tournament he is playing "badly".
Good to see many spectator for final. Much better than other tournament matches.
I not happy that Higgins in final. His winning money will be the same as his fine for cheat and all he do was miss summer when little snooker.
He should have receive longer ban or throw out of sport. 2 years ban in cycling for cheat. Higgins get of very light for cheat and take bribe.
I now hate him.
Higgins neither cheated nor did he take a bribe.
Mr Higgins agree to take bribe. The facts no £££ change hand not matter. I see video and he agree to have £££ sent to Spain.
6 month ban not long enough in opinion of me.
I little no respect for anyone who want to cheat sport.
He even smile on video.
dont know why you bother posting shite like that dave.
i know you retorted to him/her with fact, but even letting the post thru just shows theres always one idiot....
Snooker has had a loop hole in the last 6 years where there was very few tournaments. Older players had the experience and were able to battle off the new players who had very few oppotunities. 6 last year. This should change, i would not expect higgins v williams in 2013 uk final.
But if the press hadn't broken the story and it had been the russian mafia what would Higgins of done then?!
Considering the nature of John Higgins 6 month ban I'm not sure it was wise ofyour co-commentator to keep mention the players having read the "script" during tonights final session.
Its an old cliche anyway but under the circumstances, probably unwise to joke about.
What a match! Mark was a micron away from lifting a UK title..what a gutter for him. We've got to hand it to Higgins though...to keep the potting arm going under the most severe of pressure is just stupendous! Annus-not-so-horribilis for John now!
ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE! All those turning points, all this pressure, overcoming 4 frames deficit (and getting foul in frame 17) and nervy ending with three perfect final shots...
Had something like this happened in a movie we would call it cheesy and unbelievable. Here it happened for real.
Higgins, after those trying times, comes back in what must be a match of a lifetime (and remember, he's the man who won that 2006 Masters final). Big, big congratulations to him. It's good to have you back, champ.
Neither Hendry nor White won majors in three different decades. But now Higgins has.
Alpha
Higgins wins his 12th BBC major at the 12 Bet on the 12th of the 12th
Fate.
>> Dave H said...
Higgins neither cheated nor did he take a bribe.
Higgins was stupid enough or careless enough to do something that dragged snooker and people related (players and fans alike) through all the dirt and never had the decency to at least say that he regrets it.
That's all there is to say about John Higgins.
My congratulations to those who are glad that he's won, there are a lot of decent people among his fans.
I was supporting Mark Williams - in hope that we will be saved from another set of tearful interviews about how clean and good John Higgins is and how bad everyone else are.
No such luck, sadly.
It's true that Higgins neither cheated nor took a bribe, but his actions were indefensible.
He showed tonight what a truly great player he is, but he did immeasurable damage to our sport back in May and try as I might, I can't get the image of him arranging to have his mortgage paid off out of my mind. He certainly didn't look like a man afraid for his life at the time and, no matter what his protestations are, he won't escape the stigma of that easily. His win leaves a bad taste in the mouth, which is a huge shame given his wonderful talent and admirable bottle.
As for MJW - I think he'll regret not playing position on that yellow for more than a pint or 3.
John Higgins and his iron will to win can never be underestimated.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing but at 5-9 behind I still believed he could pull it off taking into account his many comebacks over the years in matches and in this tournament JH had a huge point to prove.
Williams was near to tears himself but afterwards make a cracking joke about the Nugget in a skirt.
The Final showed that at least two of the class of 1992 have the desire for longevity in the sport.
Higgins wins his 12th BBC major at the 12 Bet on the 12th of the 12th
He also won it 12 years after his first one.
I wonder, whether this win puts a stop to the endless moaning about jelous players, ill-informed fans and envy all around.
JH only needs another win or two to have been more succesful than ronnie in professional snooker events (under normal snooker, no gimmicky, rules)
Technically, Ronnie has won events in three decades, depending on your viewpoint over whether the Premier League is a major event.
So has Williams, who has won the China Open this decade.
The Premier League is not a major, Jamie. The "majors" are the triple crown events: WC, UK, Masters. No exceptions for mickey mouse tournaments or run-of-the-mill rankers.
well said betsy
jb will do anything to get his lover onto a list of who is doing well
there is a reason ron aint doing well and it aint cos he missed a few ptc's or shanghy
he only wins about 1 in 7 ranking events, going by last 5 or so years, yet starts favourite for them.
jamie thinks this is because hes the best, when his ranking suggests otherwise. what people dont realise is that the rankings dont lie. they show what you play in and how well you done. if you choose to not go, your fault.
ron winning 1/7 yet starting 2/1 fav is because of the volume of bets he always recieves from lovers like jamie the blinkered brannon.
shame hes too foolish to realise.
and with the attitude he has he will never make it in journalism, as he is far far too biased....
Betsy} Majors include the GP or LG Cup and World Open too.
Four majors hence the similarity to Tennis and Golf.
Even if the Beeb drop the World Open it would still be reffered to as a major unless there was another event that gained in stature.
betsy, theyre talking crap
ive been about snooker for 3 decades
there are 3 majors. 2 of them rankers
there are more important normal rankers than some of the others, but thats mostly about point distribution, not how important they are.
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