By Saj Chowdhury BBC Sport at The Crucible

World Championship finalist Matthew Stevens must have made his mate Mark Williams nearly rip his hair out after nearly creating history on Saturday.

Stevens was three balls away from scoring a 147 maximum - an unprecedented second of the event.

Relief for Williams

Williams who grabbed the first 147 against Robert Milkins must have been ready to cash in his �161,000 cheque.

His Welsh buddy went down to the final blue, missed it, leaving him feeling blue, but leaving Williams in the pink.

Ian McCulloch must have thought Prestatyn was one place he would not be visiting next season.

But the Preston potter who made it to the semi-final of this year's World Championship may have to go to Pontins to qualify for the 2006 event.

The person to blame would be Shaun Murphy. You see, if Murphy wins the title this year he will be seeded second for next year's competition.