CWY Snooker House

Detail Reports

FIRST ROUNDS | SECOND ROUNDS | QUARTER & SEMI FINALS / FINAL |

QUARTER FINALS

Jimmy White (Eng)	7-13	Matthew Stevens (Wal)
1st session: 32-75, 84-0 (84), 70-1 (69), 0-90 (90), 0-109 (109), 65-12 (50), 16-84 (60), 8-74 (63) 2nd session: 89-17, 1-71, 17-107 (87), 0-53, 43-64 (56), 88-33 (60), 0-73 (73), 44-70 3rd session: 68-14, 47-73 (54), 63-29, 8-50 Matthew Stevens has beaten Jimmy White to reach the Embassy World Championship semi-finals for the first time. White's World Championship dream is over for yet another year and now follow Steve Davis out of the top sixteen when the ranking list is revised at the end of the championship. The pair started their quarter-final in superb fashion with all but one frame producing breaks of 50 or more in the first session. But the Welshman soon took off in the second sesssion and led all the way to the victory. It is 22-year-old Stevens' first quarter-final victory at the Crucible. He lost 13-5 at this stage last year to Stephen Hendry, and in his 1998 quarter-final, 13-10 to Ken Doherty. The world No.9 now follow compatriot Mark J Williams into the semi-finals making it the first championship since 1981 to see two Welshmen in the last four. That year it was Doug Mountjoy and Ray Reardon who carried the Welsh flag. Matthew Stevens fulfilled an ambition and said afterwards, "I used to watch Jimmy when I was a kid. He was my hero and it was a dream come true to play him at The Crucible in the World Championship. "I felt nervous all the way through because I've lost two quarter-finals in the last two years." Looking forward to his semi-final against Joe Swail he added, "Joe and I are good friends and I'm looking forward to it. It's going to be another tough game, he's had some great results." Jimmy White was magnanimous in defeat after his Championship dream ended again and admitted, "I don't know whether I can win the championship now but as long as I am a professional and still competing, I'll keep on trying." He also denied that dropping out of the top sixteen for the second time will make him retire. "It's disappointing as well to go out of the top 16 but while it means I have to qualify next year, I'll be there, I won't give in. "I still enjoy competing. I reckon I'll play for another four or five years," said White, whose thirty-eighth birthday falls next Tuesday. Of Stevens, he said, "Matthew outplayed me basically and I didn't stay with him. "He's definitely world class and very mature for his age. He is improving by the tournament. Youngsters like Matthew are good for the game. "He knows exactly what he's doing and goes for his shots. I think he will take some stopping."

Joe Swail (NI)	13-9	Dominic Dale (Wal)
1st session: 96-33 (96), 47-76 (63), 68-61, 70-33, 2-119 (119), 1-91 (60), 35-75 (65), 66-30 2nd session: 75-0 (59), 103-22 (88), 57-33, 52-79 (51 Swail), 80-30 (50), 18-84, 78-1 (78), 62-25 3rd session: 39-63, 82-0 (82), 105-0 (50), 36-70 (70), 48-77 (52), 79-5 (79) After a thrilling victory over John Parrot in the previous round, Northern Ireland's Joe Swail completed another famous victory by beating Dominic Dale 13-9 to reach his first semi-finals of the Championship. The Belfast man has now guaranteed himself his largest paycheck ever, and will be on his way into the top sixteen unless Jimmy White wins his first ever world title. More significantly, this victory also ended Steve Davis' record of 20 successive seasons in the top 16. It means the six-time champion will have to qualify to play at The Crucible next year. Despite both of whom are in the last eight for the first time, there were few signs of nerves from the players. They shared in the first session before Swail took a success second session. He ran away from there to clinch the victory. Swail, the man with one of the most unorthodox cueing actions in the game, said after the game, "It's unbelievable. I'm playing my best match snooker of my life. "I was under a lot of pressure thinking about the top 16 but there were no tears this time. I was a lot calmer, the win over John Parrott was a once in a lifetime thing. "Guys like me don't really get the chance to do this well in the world championship, I don't want it to stop here." Excitement in Belfast is reaching fever pitch. "I'd love to go back for just one hour to see what's going on," said Swail, "But I want to stay here as long as I can now, and give my friends back home in Belfast something to shout about. "I have been low on confidence, now it's as good as ever. Never mind about the top 16, I'm in the semi-finals of the world championship. "My mum always wanted me to do well at snooker and when she died I felt I owed it to her to get my head down. My lifestyle had to change, you wouldn't believe some of the things I used to get up to. I would be in pubs and clubs, it was a joke. I get up at 9am these days to practice and that's when I used to be going to bed not all that long ago. "I had a bit of money and went out to enjoy it. Now I have responsibilities and a mortage though getting this far will pay that off." The Northern Ireland Nations Cup captain under his new moniker "The Outlaw Joe Swail" will take on Matthew Stevens or Jimmy White in the last four. Dale, like John Parrott before him was in awe of Swail's long potting, remarked, "He was potting them all the time. It's a bit dispiriting and puts a lot of pressure on my safety, which let me down badly. "I'm a bit disappointed with the way I played generally but Joe was fantastic and I take my hat off to him. "He is a nice guy and we are really good mates. Good luck to him."

Mark J Williams (Wal)	13-5	Fergal O'Brien (Ire)
1st session: 111-0 (66), 53-64, 62-83 (77), 74-16, 68-15, 28-91 (90), 69-1 (60), 70-56 (70, 56) 2nd session: 101-4 (101), 112-22 (112), 88-24, 70-8, 76-0 (52), 68-75 (68 Williams, O'Brien won on re-spotted black), 79-37, 117-0 (71) 3rd session: 23-56, 95-33 (82) The UK Champion Mark J Williams beat Fergal O'Brien 13-5 to reach his third successive semi-finals of the Embassy World Championship. The 25-year-old Welshman, who will be ranked number one next season, led 12-4 going into the last session having won the second session 7-1 last night. And Williams, the Thailand Masters champion for the past two years, believes now he can go all the way. "I felt good," he said. "If I can keep up this sort of form, I will have a very good chance of winning the championship. "I was making sizeable breaks every time I got in. I pinched one frame to go 5-3 up early on and itt gave me the confidence to play well." Williams will face Anthony Hamilton or John Higgins in the semi-finals. O'Brien, who lost his first quarter-final at the Crucible, remarked, "I've got a much better picture in my mind now of the demand of this tournament. "I knew at 12-4 down that the damage was done, but there are lessons you can still learn from losing like that. "Mark played magnificently throughout the second session and as soon as he got to the table you felt he would clear up, which is the sign of a good player. That puts you under pressure to try and score. "He was on top of his game, he was flowing and if he had been playing anyone else, it would have been good to watch. "The top players are very good once they get in front, others might be looking over their shoulder, but Mark & Co. just keep going. He is certainly good enough to win the championship."

Anthony Hamilton (Eng)	3-13	John Higgins (Sco)
1st session: 27-64, 128-8 (78), 20-85 (51), 65-56 (55 Higgins), 0-123 (108), 22-66, 20-65, 62-61 2nd session: 15-69, 9-72 (66), 54-73 (66, 54), 25-112 (86), 0-136 (136), 0-108 (103), 0-135 (135), 24-72 (52) The 1998 Embassy World Champion, John Higgins, produced a remarkable exhibition of snooker to beat Anthony Hamilton 13-3 and reach the last four for the third successive year. Higgins led 5-3 after the first session, and won all the eight frames in the second session to gain a session to spare. In the process, he also re-wrote the record book as far as ranking events are concerned. Successive breaks of 86, 136, 103, 135 and 16, along with one red and eight penalty points, took the combined aggregate score to 485 without Hamilton potting a ball, the highest for any ranking event and only two short of the all-time record. The Scot also equalled the record in the championships of three consecutive centuries. After the electrifying display of potting, Higgins said, "I don't think I can play any better than this but I will have to keep it going if I'm to win the title again. I feel fresh as a daisy right now while a year ago, I think I ran out of steam. "I could have been disappointed to be only 5-3 last night, but I know Anthony is a great player and any lead is a good lead. From 8-3 up I don't think I missed a ball." He now faces a semi-final clash with Mark J Williams, the man who last year ended Higgins' title defence, and who this year will take his number one ranking. Higgins added, "Mark has taken my number one ranking so I will be trying that much harder to stop him winning this one. "He is playing as well as he has for a couple of seasons and it should be a great match. "I definitely want to make it a different scoreline to last year." The Scot lost 17-10 in the semi-final last year. From such a brilliance of Higgins' display that world No.10 Hamilton could do nothing to stop it and he mused, "It was pretty painless and all over in a couple of hours. "I was never really involved after the first four frames today and it was a case of damage limitation. "But then after that, it was just a pleasure to watch because John played some fantastic snooker."

SEMI FINALS

Matthew Stevens (Wal) 17-12 Joe Swail (NI)

1st session: 57-74 (68), 114-9 (114), 82-21, 143-0 (143), 28-73, 78-29, 5-107 (102), 6-73 (51)
2nd session: 41-67, 78-14 (78), 110-0 (110), 101-9 (80), 75-2, 71-53 (65, 53), 94-0 (94), 32-71
3rd session: 71-10, 73-0 (73), 0-79, 33-65, 13-102 (79), 62-8, 12-118 (68), 40-70
4th session: 44-70, 67-0 (53), 64-34, 59-1, 64-8
Welsh dragon Matthew Stevens defeated Joe Swail 17-12 and posted the highest break of the tournament so far, 143, on the way to reach his first Embassy world championship final.
Stevens, winner of this season's two major invitation tournaments, the Regal Masters and B&H Masters, won the last four frames and faces John Higgins or Mark J Williams over 35 frames for the �240,000 first prize.
It is the title he is really after. If he were to win here, he would be the first player to win the world championship without winning a ranking tournament first, since Joe Johnson in 1986.
Both players are appearing in the semi-finals for the first time and shared their first session with 4-4. Stevens managed to run away in the following session. He never went behind after that though Swail showed his fightback ability once again by reducing the gap in the third and fourth session to keep the pressure on Stevens.
Defeat signalled the end of a fairy tale championship for Swail who so nearly became the first qualifier since Terry Griffiths in 1979, to reach the final.
But Swail, ranked No.28 and certain now to be in the top 16 again next season, had certainly built his reputation here especially after his recovery match against John Parrott in the earlier round, which was undoubtedly the performance of the championship so far.
However, the Irishman from Belfast still feel "drained" for the last session of the most important match of his life.
Swail, who became a hero to many observers over the last fortnight, revealed, "I got back into contention through hard work yet today the motivation just wasn't there. I don't know why but perhaps it had something to do with the fact this was my first Crucible semi-final and I wasn't used to it.
"The championship lasts a long time and I suppose you can't be pumped up all the time. It was as if there was nothing left in the tank. But Matthew played well and did his job.
"I'm not complaining though, it's been a wonderful experience and I'm over the moon at what has happened to me during the past two weeks. I really thought it was going to be my year the way things were working out, sadly it's not to be.
"However there are a couple of good things for me to work on. I wasn't scoring as heavy as I should have done against the top players. This is what is worrying me most, the bottle and the potting, - anything else doesn't.
"Yet getting to the semi-finals has given me so much confidence for the future."
The delighted 22-year-old Stevens, who become the third youngest finalist behind Stephen Hendry and Jimmy White, had his 12-6 lead reduced to 13-12 before he finally put daylight between himself and his rival.
Stevens, who has been so fluenet over the past two weeks, revealed, "I'm glad to get through because I felt tense out there. Joe made it very hard for me.
"I thought at one stage the match was going to a 17-16 affair because every frame was very hard.
"It wasn't spectacular but those small breaks at the end did more damage than the bigger ones earlier in the match.
"I'm pleased with my performance under pressure and with my shot selection.
"Everyone has been saying that the winner of the match between John Higgins and Mark J Williams will win the championship. But I feel on a high and I think I can give whoever it is a good match.
"John is a former champion and Mark is the new number one, so I think the pressure will be off me whoever gets to the final," added Stevens.

Mark J Williams (Wal) 17-15 John Higgins (Sco)

1st session: 92-1 (87), 47-71 (66), 78-9 (78), 0-103 (62), 0-102 (52, 50), 70-4 (69), 34-69, 110-0 (105)
2nd session: 77-41, 65-2, 15-70, 60-7 (60), 78-0 (78), 12-78 (73), 37-84, 7-69
3rd session: 36-98 (74), 0-69, 23-79 (60), 31-104 (62), 0-93 (93), 74-14 (72), 96-1 (82), 0-137 (137)
4th session: 70-48 (70), 4-75 (75), 74-24 (68), 56-1, 81-21, 63-62 (55 Higgins), 79-7 (54), 66-47
Mark J Williams produced a great fightback and won the last six frames to beat 1998 champion John Higgins in this classic Embassy World Championship semi-final.
He recovered from 13-8 to reach his second final in the consecutive year and set up the first all-Welsh world final in the game's history.
Both players produced excellent breaks and shots but also battled through their mistakes and misfortunes. They started the match with fluency and levelled 4-4 at the end of the first day.
However, Higgins was struggling during the second session but managed to level it once again by 8-8.
The former champion then kept on rolling thanks to his rival's mistakes. He took a commanding lead 14-10 after the third session.
But Williams somehow found his way back to the match and shattered Higgins once again in their successive world championship semi-final clash.
So upset was Higgins, the 1998 champion, that he avoided a television interview and made only brief comments at his press conference afterwards.
"There's not a lot more to say. I bottled it," he said. "I had chances to lead 16-14 and didn't take them. My mind was not there and I'm very disappointed.
"This ranks with the biggest disappointment of my career. I should have had it in the bag."
Williams who next season takes over as the world No.1 from Higgins, remarked, "This is one of my best performances under pressure but I hadn't written myself off when I went 14-10 behind.
"I knew if I won three of the next four frames, I was back in with a good chance and when that happened I was confident I could come back at him.
"John looked as if he might run away with the game and while I was starting to go towards the end. I was still enjoying the contest. I played some good shots under pressure and I think I handled this a bit better than he did.
"The crowd also seemed to love it, they applauded both of us. I have had comebacks before but not often against someone of John's calibre."
Looking forward to the final against good friend Matthew Stevens, he said, "He's not my friend for the next two days! If I weren't going to win it, I'd like to see Matthew win it anyway. At least the trophy is going back to Wales. I'm just looking forward to it and hopefully I'll play well."

Matthew Stevens (Wal)	17-12	Joe Swail (NI)
1st session: 57-74 (68), 114-9 (114), 82-21, 143-0 (143), 28-73, 78-29, 5-107 (102), 6-73 (51) 2nd session: 41-67, 78-14 (78), 110-0 (110), 101-9 (80), 75-2, 71-53 (65, 53), 94-0 (94), 32-71 3rd session: 71-10, 73-0 (73), 0-79, 33-65, 13-102 (79), 62-8, 12-118 (68), 40-70 4th session: 44-70, 67-0 (53), 64-34, 59-1, 64-8 Welsh dragon Matthew Stevens defeated Joe Swail 17-12 and posted the highest break of the tournament so far, 143, on the way to reach his first Embassy world championship final. Stevens, winner of this season's two major invitation tournaments, the Regal Masters and B&H Masters, won the last four frames and faces John Higgins or Mark J Williams over 35 frames for the �240,000 first prize. It is the title he is really after. If he were to win here, he would be the first player to win the world championship without winning a ranking tournament first, since Joe Johnson in 1986. Both players are appearing in the semi-finals for the first time and shared their first session with 4-4. Stevens managed to run away in the following session. He never went behind after that though Swail showed his fightback ability once again by reducing the gap in the third and fourth session to keep the pressure on Stevens. Defeat signalled the end of a fairy tale championship for Swail who so nearly became the first qualifier since Terry Griffiths in 1979, to reach the final. But Swail, ranked No.28 and certain now to be in the top 16 again next season, had certainly built his reputation here especially after his recovery match against John Parrott in the earlier round, which was undoubtedly the performance of the championship so far. However, the Irishman from Belfast still feel "drained" for the last session of the most important match of his life. Swail, who became a hero to many observers over the last fortnight, revealed, "I got back into contention through hard work yet today the motivation just wasn't there. I don't know why but perhaps it had something to do with the fact this was my first Crucible semi-final and I wasn't used to it. "The championship lasts a long time and I suppose you can't be pumped up all the time. It was as if there was nothing left in the tank. But Matthew played well and did his job. "I'm not complaining though, it's been a wonderful experience and I'm over the moon at what has happened to me during the past two weeks. I really thought it was going to be my year the way things were working out, sadly it's not to be. "However there are a couple of good things for me to work on. I wasn't scoring as heavy as I should have done against the top players. This is what is worrying me most, the bottle and the potting, - anything else doesn't. "Yet getting to the semi-finals has given me so much confidence for the future." The delighted 22-year-old Stevens, who become the third youngest finalist behind Stephen Hendry and Jimmy White, had his 12-6 lead reduced to 13-12 before he finally put daylight between himself and his rival. Stevens, who has been so fluenet over the past two weeks, revealed, "I'm glad to get through because I felt tense out there. Joe made it very hard for me. "I thought at one stage the match was going to a 17-16 affair because every frame was very hard. "It wasn't spectacular but those small breaks at the end did more damage than the bigger ones earlier in the match. "I'm pleased with my performance under pressure and with my shot selection. "Everyone has been saying that the winner of the match between John Higgins and Mark J Williams will win the championship. But I feel on a high and I think I can give whoever it is a good match. "John is a former champion and Mark is the new number one, so I think the pressure will be off me whoever gets to the final," added Stevens.

Mark J Williams (Wal)	17-15	John Higgins (Sco)
1st session: 92-1 (87), 47-71 (66), 78-9 (78), 0-103 (62), 0-102 (52, 50), 70-4 (69), 34-69, 110-0 (105) 2nd session: 77-41, 65-2, 15-70, 60-7 (60), 78-0 (78), 12-78 (73), 37-84, 7-69 3rd session: 36-98 (74), 0-69, 23-79 (60), 31-104 (62), 0-93 (93), 74-14 (72), 96-1 (82), 0-137 (137) 4th session: 70-48 (70), 4-75 (75), 74-24 (68), 56-1, 81-21, 63-62 (55 Higgins), 79-7 (54), 66-47 Mark J Williams produced a great fightback and won the last six frames to beat 1998 champion John Higgins in this classic Embassy World Championship semi-final. He recovered from 13-8 to reach his second final in the consecutive year and set up the first all-Welsh world final in the game's history. Both players produced excellent breaks and shots but also battled through their mistakes and misfortunes. They started the match with fluency and levelled 4-4 at the end of the first day. However, Higgins was struggling during the second session but managed to level it once again by 8-8. The former champion then kept on rolling thanks to his rival's mistakes. He took a commanding lead 14-10 after the third session. But Williams somehow found his way back to the match and shattered Higgins once again in their successive world championship semi-final clash. So upset was Higgins, the 1998 champion, that he avoided a television interview and made only brief comments at his press conference afterwards. "There's not a lot more to say. I bottled it," he said. "I had chances to lead 16-14 and didn't take them. My mind was not there and I'm very disappointed. "This ranks with the biggest disappointment of my career. I should have had it in the bag." Williams who next season takes over as the world No.1 from Higgins, remarked, "This is one of my best performances under pressure but I hadn't written myself off when I went 14-10 behind. "I knew if I won three of the next four frames, I was back in with a good chance and when that happened I was confident I could come back at him. "John looked as if he might run away with the game and while I was starting to go towards the end. I was still enjoying the contest. I played some good shots under pressure and I think I handled this a bit better than he did. "The crowd also seemed to love it, they applauded both of us. I have had comebacks before but not often against someone of John's calibre." Looking forward to the final against good friend Matthew Stevens, he said, "He's not my friend for the next two days! If I weren't going to win it, I'd like to see Matthew win it anyway. At least the trophy is going back to Wales. I'm just looking forward to it and hopefully I'll play well."

FINAL

Matthew Stevens (Wal) 16-18 Mark J Williams (Wal)

1st session: 62-50, 84-28 (77), 33-56, 103-23 (103), 18-65, 61-76 (57 Williams), 0-123 (123), 75-35 (65)
2nd session: 64-24, 91-37 (85), 59-21, 117-0 (111), 114-7 (114), 6-79 (59), 73-22 (73), 0-68 (63)
3rd session: 133-0 (108), 66-48, 0-106 (106), 55-54, 0-81 (80), 34-79, 46-71, 37-79
4th session: 33-77 (77), 67-0 (67), 6-75, 0-74 (67), 120-16 (120), 13-61, 66-70, 60-29, 8-76 (56), 21-73
Mark J Williams made another great fightback to beat Matthew Stevens 18-16 to claim his first Embassy World Championship title in this first all-Welsh final contest.
The new world No.1 is then the first Welshman to win the title since Terry Griffiths in 1979. He also became the first left-handed player to lift the trophy.
Williams, winner this season of the UK championship and the Thailand Masters, had led 4-3 but he didn't get his nose in front again until he moved ahead 16-15.
Twice he had been six frames adrift when Stevens made a dash for glory to lead 12-6 and 13-7, but as he did against John Higgins in the semi-finals, Williams was able to claw his way back through the wreckage.
A rousing final which came to life as Williams won seven frames out of eight to draw level at 14-14.
Matthew Stevens refused to get too disappointed despite seeing his big lead shot to pieces by a resurgent compatriot.
"I missed a couple of chances, but it's all experience." said Stevens, whose magnanimity in defeat was admirable. "It was a great atmosphere.
"At 13-9 up, I missed a black off the spot and that was probably where I started to lose it.
"I thoroughly enjoyed it but Mark played extremely well. Both of us were feeling the pressure at the end and he deserved to win it.
"Right now he is the best player in the world and a long way ahead of the rest of us.
"It's been a great experience for me coonsidering this was the first time I have been in the final.
"Hopefully I can come back next year and go one better."
But there is something still for Stevens to consolidate as the 22-year-old returned home to Carmarthen �140,000 richer in finishing second. There was also the �20,000 bonus for the highest break, a 143 during his semi-final against Joe Swail.
Stevens also recorded 11 centuries during the championship, only John Higgins (14) and Stephen Hendry (12) had recorded more in a major.
A delighted new world champion said after his victory that "winning the World Championship meant everything."
Williams lost last year's final to Stephen Hendry but produced a memorable comeback to enjoy victory this time.
He enthused, "It's fantastic. To be world No.1 and world champion is something I have dreamed of since I was a kid. It's a great day for Welsh snooker.
"I had some running towards the end but not so much early on and while Matthew had a big lead, I never gave up. I did wonder though whether I had left myself with too much to do though I never thought for a minute that I was going to lose.
"I just had to stick in there and hope that the run would turn in the end, which it eventually did.
"I don't change my game. If I've got a shot on, I go for it whether I'm in front or behind. That's the way I play.
"The pressure out there was massive and started to get to both of us towards the end. It was certainly hard work trying to cope with it all.
"Its also been a long season and I've been involved in a few finals so perhaps that's why I felt a bit drained after beating Higgins. But I'm so proud of what I have achieved," added Williams who completed a double for the Welsh with Ian Preece of Newport winning the world amateur title in November.
Williams also paid tribute to his good friend Matthew Stevens, saying, "Many players don't take losing well, but Matthew is a good sport."
He now carries a huge lead at the head of the ranking list going into the new season, with John Higgins in second and Stephen Hendry in third.
The 25-year-old from Cwm also did a friend a favour tonight.
Kevin Bohn, the 41-year-old from Llanelli where close to Steven's home town, placed a week's wages of �140 at 300-1 on Williams eleven years ago when he saw him playing in a club in Wales to win the world title in the year 2000 or before. The payout is over �40,000. Congratulation!

Matthew Stevens (Wal)	16-18	Mark J Williams (Wal)
1st session: 62-50, 84-28 (77), 33-56, 103-23 (103), 18-65, 61-76 (57 Williams), 0-123 (123), 75-35 (65) 2nd session: 64-24, 91-37 (85), 59-21, 117-0 (111), 114-7 (114), 6-79 (59), 73-22 (73), 0-68 (63) 3rd session: 133-0 (108), 66-48, 0-106 (106), 55-54, 0-81 (80), 34-79, 46-71, 37-79 4th session: 33-77 (77), 67-0 (67), 6-75, 0-74 (67), 120-16 (120), 13-61, 66-70, 60-29, 8-76 (56), 21-73 Mark J Williams made another great fightback to beat Matthew Stevens 18-16 to claim his first Embassy World Championship title in this first all-Welsh final contest. The new world No.1 is then the first Welshman to win the title since Terry Griffiths in 1979. He also became the first left-handed player to lift the trophy. Williams, winner this season of the UK championship and the Thailand Masters, had led 4-3 but he didn't get his nose in front again until he moved ahead 16-15. Twice he had been six frames adrift when Stevens made a dash for glory to lead 12-6 and 13-7, but as he did against John Higgins in the semi-finals, Williams was able to claw his way back through the wreckage. A rousing final which came to life as Williams won seven frames out of eight to draw level at 14-14. Matthew Stevens refused to get too disappointed despite seeing his big lead shot to pieces by a resurgent compatriot. "I missed a couple of chances, but it's all experience." said Stevens, whose magnanimity in defeat was admirable. "It was a great atmosphere. "At 13-9 up, I missed a black off the spot and that was probably where I started to lose it. "I thoroughly enjoyed it but Mark played extremely well. Both of us were feeling the pressure at the end and he deserved to win it. "Right now he is the best player in the world and a long way ahead of the rest of us. "It's been a great experience for me coonsidering this was the first time I have been in the final. "Hopefully I can come back next year and go one better." But there is something still for Stevens to consolidate as the 22-year-old returned home to Carmarthen �140,000 richer in finishing second. There was also the �20,000 bonus for the highest break, a 143 during his semi-final against Joe Swail. Stevens also recorded 11 centuries during the championship, only John Higgins (14) and Stephen Hendry (12) had recorded more in a major. A delighted new world champion said after his victory that "winning the World Championship meant everything." Williams lost last year's final to Stephen Hendry but produced a memorable comeback to enjoy victory this time. He enthused, "It's fantastic. To be world No.1 and world champion is something I have dreamed of since I was a kid. It's a great day for Welsh snooker. "I had some running towards the end but not so much early on and while Matthew had a big lead, I never gave up. I did wonder though whether I had left myself with too much to do though I never thought for a minute that I was going to lose. "I just had to stick in there and hope that the run would turn in the end, which it eventually did. "I don't change my game. If I've got a shot on, I go for it whether I'm in front or behind. That's the way I play. "The pressure out there was massive and started to get to both of us towards the end. It was certainly hard work trying to cope with it all. "Its also been a long season and I've been involved in a few finals so perhaps that's why I felt a bit drained after beating Higgins. But I'm so proud of what I have achieved," added Williams who completed a double for the Welsh with Ian Preece of Newport winning the world amateur title in November. Williams also paid tribute to his good friend Matthew Stevens, saying, "Many players don't take losing well, but Matthew is a good sport." He now carries a huge lead at the head of the ranking list going into the new season, with John Higgins in second and Stephen Hendry in third. The 25-year-old from Cwm also did a friend a favour tonight. Kevin Bohn, the 41-year-old from Llanelli where close to Steven's home town, placed a week's wages of �140 at 300-1 on Williams eleven years ago when he saw him playing in a club in Wales to win the world title in the year 2000 or before. The payout is over �40,000. Congratulation!

Hosted by www.Geocities.ws