World Snooker Championship 2018: John Higgins beats Kyren Wilson to reach final
- From the section Snooker
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| 2018 World Championship |
|---|
| Venue: Crucible Theatre, Sheffield Dates: 21 April - 7 May |
| Coverage: Watch live across BBC One, BBC Two, BBC Red Button, Connected TV, the BBC Sport website and mobile app. |
Four-time winner John Higgins reached his seventh World Championship final with a 17-13 victory over Kyren Wilson.
The Scot also reached the showpiece in Sheffield last year, when he was beaten by world number one Mark Selby.
Having gone 3-0 up, he held off a valiant challenge from Wilson, who got within touching distance before his opponent pulled away to secure victory.
Higgins will face either Mark Williams or Barry Hawkins in the final, which takes place on Sunday and Monday.
Two-time champion Williams trails former finalist Hawkins 13-11 after an engrossing third session. They play to a finish from 19:30 BST.
Higgins shows his experience
Higgins, who won the most recent of his world titles in 2011, came into the final session against Wilson with a two-frame cushion at 13-11.
The 42-year-old started with 40 but broke down after missing a red, allowing Wilson to make a classy 96 clearance to trail by one.
But Higgins was at his solid, match-play best throughout the contest, highlighted when he asked two young children to be moved from their seats in the front row as they were proving to be a distraction.
The hold-up did not unsettle him as he pinched the frame, as well as taking the next with a sublime 136 clearance.
Wilson pulled one back with a 53, but breaks of 100 and 98 put Higgins through.
An emotional Higgins said: "It is a big thing. It is obviously gutting for him but I am just proud.
"I was just hanging in there and the form came. I need to start better in the final.
"Kyren put me under it but just could not get level. He reminds me so much of Mark Selby, when I played him in 2007. Both players have so much aura about them and he comes to the table thinking he can pot everything. Maybe his cueball control is as not tight as others, but that will come."
First session proves costly
Kettering's Wilson displayed his potential in his first appearance at the one-table set-up at the Crucible, making three centuries and eight further breaks of 50 or more.
But the 26-year-old said a poor start was his undoing as he did not quite manage to catch the experienced Higgins.
Masters finalist Wilson said: "The very first session has cost me. I hold my hands up, walking out into the arena with the one table for the first time was so unique compared to the two tables.
"My game is there, I just struggled to settle in the first session. It was very different and open, walking from chair to shot was different and there was a massive buzz in the crowd, all eyes were on you. It has put me in good stead for the future."
Hawkins edging battle of left-handers
The match between Hawkins and Williams has been a high-quality battle, and the standard of snooker increased still further in the third session.
Hawkins, runner-up to Ronnie O'Sullivan in 2013, looked to be edging in front again when 44 ahead in the 20th frame but broke down, as Williams capitalised with a cool 68 to level the contest at 10-10.
But the Ditton player has one of the best records at the Crucible in recent years, reaching at least the semi-finals in five of the past six years.
He showed his class by going 12-10 up, including a slick 133 break, but the 24th may be the telling contribution as Williams made 50 but missed a black off the spot, allowing Hawkins to compile a fine 73 to keep his lead.
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