World Snooker Championship 2018 - the final

Day 16 of 17 in the long-running competition that is the World Snooker final - held since 1977 at the Crucible theatre in Sheffield.

This year's finalists are four-time winner John Higgins and two-time winner Mark Williams.  Whoever wins it will be the longest gap for a player since their first win.

 The lady on top of the trophy, captured against the ceiling lights of the Crucible theatre.

 A view from the photographer's booth as the match gets underway.

 Referee Brendan Moore places the trophy at the end of the table at the start of the match, ready for...

 ...the traditional handshake shot between John Higgins and Mark Williams.

 Mark Williams at the table

John Higgins plays down the table

Action from Day 11 of the 2017 Betfred World Snooker Championships

Some shots from the eighth frame of the match between Ronnie O'Sullivan and Ding Jinhui in the first session of their quarter final match at the Crucible, Sheffield.  Ding had raced to a 3-0 lead, Ronnie pegged it back to 3-3.  then there was a re-spotted black in the seventh which Ding won, leaving Ronnie to win this frame and tie it all at 4-4.

Action from Day 8 of the 2017 Betfred Snooker World Championship

It's the middle Saturday, nearly half-way in the tournament and two players are already through to the Quarter Finals at the Crucible, Sheffield with others looking to join them.

After their first session, Ding Junhui was 9-7 up against Liang Wenbo.  Ding broke at the start of the 17th frame.

 There was some early excitement over a re-spotted white following a foul.

Despite a Ding fightback, Liang won through 23-110 to make it 9-8 ni frames.

 On Table 2, Rory McLeod was taking on Stephen Maguire.

Action from Day 7 of the Betfred 2017 Snooker World Championship

Just had time after work to catch the last frame of the John Higgins vs Mark Allen match at the Crucible, Sheffield.  John Higgins started by trailing 2-5 matches down, but came back by 72 points to 40 to leave it at 3-5 after the first session.

Action from Day 4 of the Betfred Snooker World Championship 2017

Another busy day at the Crucible...different for me as I was back at the day job and also needing to cover the evening session of the UK Swimming Championships at Ponds Forge....

Last year's runner-up Ding Junhui overcame Crucible debutant Zhou Yuelong 10-5

 Zhou Yuelong in the press conference after the match

  Ding Junhui in the press conference after the match

Judd Trump who started his match against Rory McLeod by winning the first four frames, seen here playing in the eigth frame which then tied the match at 4-4.

 Referee Olivier Marteel

On table 1, Liang Wenbo ran out 10-7 winner against Stuart Carrington