Welshman Mark Williams turned back the clock to reach the World Championship final by beating world number one Judd Trump 17-14 at the Crucible on Saturday. At 50 years old, Williams became the oldest player ever to make the final.
The previous record was held by another Welshman, Ray Reardon, who was 49 when he lost the 1982 final to Alex Higgins.
Speaking to the BBC, Williams said, “I shouldn’t really be competing with the world’s number one over three days in a race to 17, but somehow I’m hanging in there for us older guys. I can’t believe I’m in another final. I honestly don’t know how I’m doing it.”
A three-time world champion, with his last win in 2018, Williams came back from 7-3 down to level the match 8-8 on Friday and led 13-11 after the first session on Saturday.
Trump fell further behind as Williams took a 16-12 lead, needing only one more frame to win. Trump, who won the title in 2019, fought back by winning the next two frames, but Williams sealed the match with his second century break of the day.
Williams will now face China’s Zhao Xintong in Sunday’s final. Zhao, 28, made it to his first final by beating seven-time champion Ronnie O’Sullivan 17-7.
Williams said, “I remember playing Zhao when he was 11 or 12 in China. We played a best-of-five, and he beat me 3-1. About 500 people were watching, and it was live on TV.
“I told everyone back then that he was going to be really good. It would be amazing for a Chinese player to win the World Championship and great for the sport—but not this time!”
