Neil Robertson reveals his best world snooker final, and it wasn't this year's epic Crucible climax

In what goes down as one of the most remarkable matches in Crucible history, Chinese youngster Wu - who before this year had never won a match on the sport’s grandest stage - ousted Murphy 18-17 after a brilliant tournament-winning effort of 85.

Going back-to-back for his country following Zhao Xintong’s history-making triumph twelve months before, 22-year-old Wu became the second youngest-ever winner of the world snooker championship, only behind Stephen Hendry who was 21 when he claimed the first of his seven world crowns in 1990.

The dramatic finale to 17 days of main draw green baize action was only the fourth time in Crucible history - since the annual event moved there in 1977 - that the Championship final had gone to a deciding frame, and it was the first time since Peter Ebdon’s narrow success over Hendry in the 2002 title decider.

The thriller between Wu and Murphy drew in a huge peak audience in the United Kingdom of four million viewers across the BBC and TNT Sports. The contest yielded a 25% TV share - meaning a quarter of people watching television in the UK were tuned in to the sporting drama unfolding at the Crucible.

Following several matches from the last 16 stage going close - including the semi-finals which finished 17-15 and 17-16 - there has been debate as to whether this was the greatest World Snooker Championship of all time.

However, Neil Robertson - who won the world title in 2010 - doesn’t believe that the spectacle between Wu and Murphy qualifies as the best Crucible final, ever.

The Australian - who bowed out to John Higgins in the quarter-finals of this year’s edition - was quick to congratulate both Wu and Murphy for their memorable efforts with a post on social media (see above).

But the 44-year-old - who is a historian of the sport - has stopped short labelling it as the best final of all time, instead giving that accolade to the 2018 pinnacle between ‘Class of 92’ graduates Mark Williams and John Higgins.

Another stone cold Crucible classic, the contest went 34 of the 35 frames, with Welshman Williams claiming his third world title - 15 years on from his second - after an 18-16 victory.

A contest that featured six century breaks (four to Higgins, two to Williams), Williams led 14-7 and 15-10, but Higgins pulled back to all level at 15-15.

‘The Welsh Potting Machine’ regrouped to take the next two frames to reach the hill, and got himself into a glorious position to claim the title whilst on a break of 63, but missed a pink that would have left his opponent needing a snooker. Higgins stepped up to compile a counter clearance of 65 to close to within one.

But Williams got over that shock in the next frame, producing what was essentially a title winning contribution of 69.

In terms of overall standard, Robertson gave his nod towards the 2013 World Championship final between Ronnie O’Sullivan and Barry Hawkins.

Defending champion O’Sullivan - who had played just one professional competitive match that season prior to the tournament - secured back-to-back world titles for the first time in his career after defeating maiden Crucible finalist Hawkins, 18-12.

The encounter featured eight centuries (six for O’Sullivan, two for Hawkins) and there were 11 further breaks over 70.

Current world number two Robertson also gave a shout out to the 2001 final between O’Sullivan and Higgins, the first of The Rocket’s seven world championship triumphs.