4-time winner john higgins reached the world championship final for the 7th time, putting in a assembly with -time champion mark williams.
Higgins also reached the showpiece in sheffield ultimate year, when he become crushed via global primary mark selby.
The scot secured his vicinity on this yr's very last with the aid of beating kyren wilson 17-thirteen, at the same time as williams edged to a late-night 17-15 overcome barry hawkins
The final at the crucible begins on sunday at 14:00 bst and ends on monday.
Higgins, forty two, or williams, 43, can be the oldest winner because welshman ray reardon, who changed into forty five whilst he triumphed in 1978.
Each gamers are a part of snooker's 'magnificence of '92' - turning expert that 12 months along with five-time international champion ronnie o'sullivan.
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'an additional unique final'
Williams' appearance inside the final caps a wonderful turnaround for the welshman. He did no longer even qualify in 2017, and final reached the final 15 years in the past, when he defeated ken doherty.
He nearly retired closing summer and did now not win a ranking name for six years, however a late-profession revival has seen him claim activities this season.
And his performances on the crucible have been a throwback to the turn of the century - while he was global primary - stroking in notable lengthy pots in his calm and languid way.
Such became his dominance then, williams is the ultimate participant to have held all 3 bbc activities of the world, united kingdom championship and masters on the identical time.
Williams had stated in advance in the tournament that he could do his news convention naked if he won the trophy.
Asked if he'll keep his word, williams said: "definitely, no question about it. I will don't have anything on at all." he then picked up an ice bucket from the desk and brought: "i can hold this here."
He brought: "john is certain to have an advantage. It is almost 1am and he is fast asleep in mattress. It's far handiest two more days and i will give it one final push.
"if i needed to play him this night, i would don't have anything left in the tank and it'd be 18-0 to him. I need a terrific night time's sleep and pop out and the adrenaline have to kick in to assist me at the manner."
Higgins stated: "i don't sense like the favourite. It will be some other substantial very last and a awesome in shape.
"it's been a proud twenty years after triumphing my first one and now i am on the point of compete in some other one. It's far a wonderful feeling.
"it is going to be greater unique playing mark. He has won it two times earlier than and i am going for my fifth. He is bald, i am grey, so it is going to be a intellectual final."
Shot of the championship? Williams' 'implausible' pot
What passed off inside the dramatic final consultation?
Hawkins held a 13-eleven lead going into the final session, helped through williams lacking a black off the spot with an possibility to stage.
The welshman did the identical within the first body of the very last consultation, however it did not prove highly-priced in this event as a spoil of 55 proved sufficient.
Hawkins, runner-as much as o'sullivan in 2013, took a drawn-out frame before the tension accelerated and both players started to twitch on truthful pots.
The englishman ignored the very last purple in both of the following frames, permitting williams to stage at 14-14.
The pair exchanged frames earlier than williams took the lead for the first time at sixteen-15 and claimed the only he needed on the black ball at 23:50 bst on saturday.
Higgins suggests his enjoy
Higgins, who received the maximum latest of his world titles in 2011, came into the very last consultation in opposition to wilson with a -body cushion at 13-11.
The scot started with 40 but broke down after missing a purple, permitting wilson to make a classy 96 clearance to path by one.
However higgins was at his solid, healthy-play exceptional at some point of the competition, highlighted when he asked young children to be moved from their seats in the front row as they were proving to be a distraction.
The maintain-up did now not unsettle him as he pinched the frame, as well as taking the subsequent with a chic 136 clearance.
Wilson pulled one back with a fifty three, however breaks of 100 and 98 put higgins thru.
Higgins beats wilson to book vicinity in final - satisfactory five photographs
Analysis - isolating the pleasant from the rest
Seven-time world champion and bbc game pundit stephen hendry
It's the closing match on your profession and the ultimate location to play. There is not a larger event however you have to keep composed and treat it like a normal in shape.
I'd are available half of-an-hour earlier than the match starts offevolved and have 10 mins at the exercise table. I would experience bodily unwell, like i might throw up, feeling nauseous, and that i felt like a coiled spring.
Simply deal with the table, forget anything else. Treat it like any other sport of snooker. It's far hard to do this, that's what separates the first-class from the relaxation.
