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Last Updated: Monday, 5 May, 2003, 22:18 GMT 23:18 UK
Williams wins Crucible thriller
By Dan Warren
BBC Sport at the Crucible

Mark Williams kisses the Embassy World Championship trophy
I felt so many nerves it was frightening
World champion Mark Williams
Mark Williams survived an amazing Ken Doherty fightback to win 18-16 and take his second world title in one of the tournament's best-ever finals.

It was a victory which seemed simple after Sunday night's play, when the Welshman's brilliant snooker had given him an 11-5 lead.

Even that emphatic scoreline represented something of a comeback for Doherty, who had been 10-2 down at one point.

But the Irishman has proved remarkably resilient and he was full of fight on Monday.

The number five seed produced a spellbinding session on Monday afternoon, winning six frames in a row to pull back to 11-11.

Williams looked bewildered at that point, but finally bagged a frame as he edged a tight 23rd to regain his lead.

But Doherty was in no mood to let go.

Every time Williams moved ahead, he fought back, moving the score on to 14-14.

The Welsh world number one finally clicked into form, and when he moved 16-14 ahead, it looked as though Doherty's challenge could be over.

But again the Irishman rallied, taking the score to 16-16.

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All Doherty's previous opponents had wilted in the face of the pressure, but Williams responded in emphatic fashion.

He took the final two frames, the last with a 77 break, to clinch his second world crown and complete the treble of the UK Championships, B&H Masters and Embassy World Championships in a single season.


Final (best of 35 frames):
Mark Williams (Wal) 18-16 Ken Doherty (Ire)
60-37, 82-55, 0-97 (76), 73-29, 86-30 (62), 82-12 (52), 74-30, 75-56 (75 and 56), 24-85, 118-4 (118), 76-1, 101-0 (101), 0-79 (79), 69-70, 75-0, 51-60 (50 Doherty), 10-73 (52), 31-62, 6-128 (128), 17-61, 49-82, 39-70, 68-41, 0-115 (115), 62-19, 23-98 (92), 87-0 (87), 45-78, 121-0 (120), 77-0 (64), 17-68, 9-120 (112), 96-28, 120-0.




WATCH AND LISTEN
Mark Williams
"I can't believe it's happened"


Ken Doherty
"It was a great match to be involved in"


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