Mark Williams was closing in on a third Betfred World Championship title after extending his lead over John Higgins at the Crucible.

At one stage in Monday’s afternoon session Williams looked as though he could cross the winning line without needing to return in the evening.

That did not materialise but by stretching his lead from 10-7 overnight to an even more commanding 15-10, the 43-year-old Welshman was just three frames away from the winning line.

Williams is bidding to add to his 2000 and 2003 triumphs and become the oldest world champion since 45-year-old Ray Reardon’s 1978 success. He vowed earlier in the tournament to strip off for his post-match press conference if he lands the title, and has said he would stick to that commitment.

Williams reeled off the first four frames of the afternoon as Higgins scored just 31 points.

But it was a different story after the mid-session interval as four-time champion Higgins finally found some fluency as he attempted to avoid a second Crucible final defeat in a row, having lost out to Mark Selby last year.

The last Crucible final to finish with a session to spare was in 1993 when Stephen Hendry beat Jimmy White 18-5.

The slim possibility of another unusually early finish was ended by Higgins winning the first frame after the resumption, with a break of 67 sparing him from what would have been an embarrassing scenario.

Higgins was suddenly right back to his best, and a 72 clearance won him the 23rd frame after Williams had opened with a run of 65.

The Crucible spectators were anticipating a moment of history in the next, as Higgins chased what would have been the first 147 maximum break in a World Championship final.

He sank 10 reds and blacks but then wobbled the 11th red around the jaws of a corner pocket and the chance slipped by.

The break nevertheless put him 14-10 behind with one frame of the afternoon remaining.

Higgins had a chance to cut Williams’ lead even further but missed a difficult red and let in his opponent to make a frame-sealing 34 break.

The scoreline as they departed the arena, ahead of the 7pm resumption, made Williams a resounding favourite to lift the trophy.