By John Curtis, PA Sport

Mark Williams has pledged to put his close friendship with Matthew Stevens on hold when the pair contest the first all-Welsh Embassy World Championship final at the Crucible Theatre.

Williams produced an amazing comeback to win his semi-final with 1998 champion John Higgins, reeling off six frames in a row after he had trailed 15-11.

It left Higgins feeling totally shell-shocked and admitting that he had "bottled" the final session.

Williams will be a red-hot favourite to overcome Stevens, who had held off a spirited challenge from rank outsider Joe Swail to reach his first world final.

The duo practice together on the green baize and also play golf - but that friendship will be forgotten for the next 48 hours, during the best of 35 frames final.

Williams said: "I thought Matthew would have won a ranking tournament by now and it cannot be too far away - but hopefully not until next season!

"He will probably be the underdog based on the rankings, but that counts for nothing these days with so many excellent players around - and he is one of them.

"We are good pals and to have two Welsh players in the final is fantastic - but we will not be best mates for the next two days. For the next two days I can't stand the bloke!

"I beat him in the UK Championships final earlier in the season and I expect he will be gunning for me.

"But I've got the incentive of wanting to win my first world title and the chance to extend my lead over John Higgins in the ranking points table.

"I will be looking to play like I did in the final session against John Higgins over the two days, but whether I'm good or bad, I'll still keep fighting away.

"The good thing is, whatever happens, it's great that the trophy and title is going back to Wales."

Stevens admitted that he will achieve a long held ambition when he aims to overcome the odds against Williams.

He said: "Ever since I have been a player, it's always been my dream to walk through the curtains at the Crucible on finals day.

"It must be a magical feeling and I'm just glad I'm going to have the chance to experience that.

"I feel confident I can go all the way.

I'm sure most people will be expecting Mark to win, as the world number one, but I've been playing well for the last fortnight and I've had a great season. I want to finish it off by winning the world championship."

Higgins held his hand up after throwing away his 15-11 advantage against Williams, who had also defeated him in last season's world semi-final.

The player known as the Wizard of Wishaw temporarily lost his magic wand - and an inspirational Williams needed no second invitation to cash in.

Higgins admitted: "I had chances, but I bottled it. At 15-14 I had two good chances and my mind just wasn't there. I was a bottle merchant on this occasion.

"There is nothing more I can say. It ranks with the biggest disappointments of my career. At 14-10 I felt in control. I should have had it in the bag after the afternoon session."

Williams admitted: "That is one of the finest moments of my career. It ranks with when I won the Benson and Hedges Masters on the final black a couple of years ago.

"I was 14-10 down, but I knew I still had a chance - although it was vital I won three of the opening four frames.

"I just tried to get myself going, because at one stage John won seven or eight frames on the trot and looked as if he was going to run away with the game.

"I just tried to hang in there. I pinched a couple of scrappy frames and started to flow towards the end of the match.

"I didn't feel under pressure. I got a couple of good pots under pressure - and you can't really get under more pressure than there was out there.

"I felt I held it together a bit better towards the end than John. I could see he was under pressure.

"I said 'keep plugging away' and then the more under pressure he will become, and will start missing balls - and that's what he did."