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‘What a contest!’ – Williams advances to the semi-finals
Mark Williams, the three-time world champion, narrowly edged out John Higgins 13-12 in a dramatic black-ball decider to reach the semi-finals at the Crucible.
The match resumed at 8-8 on Wednesday, with Higgins left regretting missed opportunities as Williams clinched all four opening frames, registering three breaks over fifty.
Despite trailing 5-1 earlier in the match, the 50-year-old Williams won the 20th frame but was then largely a spectator as Higgins mounted a comeback from 12-8 behind.
Higgins, 49, who had struggled with form, suddenly found his touch, producing impressive breaks of 94, 114, and 67 to set up an outstanding finale.
With both players afforded chances in a nerve-wracking final frame, Williams capitalised after Higgins failed to pot the blue, becoming the oldest player to reach the semi-finals since Ray Reardon in 1985.
“Incredible match, incredible finish. That blue was one of the finest shots I’ve played in years,” Williams told BBC Sport.
“What a blue… absolute nerve. It was a tough shot—I could have gone in-off, I could have missed it. Instead I chose full commitment.
“I felt no nerves at all, which is rare for me in my entire career.”
Williams’ dramatic win means he will next meet world number one Judd Trump, in a repeat of their 2022 semi-final clash.
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The world number six has enjoyed a strong record against his fellow ‘Class of 92′ competitor at Sheffield, winning five out of six encounters, but this marks Higgins’ first decider loss at the Crucible since 1996.
Yet, after a quiet start, the thrilling standard of their 2018 final—which Williams won 18-16—seemed unlikely to be repeated based on the morning’s first four frames.
Williams, spurred on by Tom Jones’ ‘Delilah’ before entering the arena, found his rhythm early, while Higgins struggled until the interval. After the break, Higgins showed the form that recently brought him the World Open and Tour Championship titles.
“I played poorly for the first four frames but after the break, with nothing to lose, I produced perhaps my best four-frame spell of the tournament,” the Scot reflected.
“I had my opportunity. If I make the brown and follow through, the blue is a formality, but the pressure is immense.”
“The atmosphere was extraordinary. I’m disappointed now, but experiences like this are why we continue competing.”
Zhao Xintong progressed to his maiden Crucible semi-final with a dominant 13-5 victory over Chris Wakelin.
That achievement sets up a match with seven-time world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan, who defeated compatriot Si Jiahui 13-9 on Wednesday evening.
The 28-year-old Zhao, competing as an amateur, won six frames in a row on Tuesday to establish a 12-4 lead before closing out the match in style.
Previously a UK Championship title holder, Zhao has now claimed victory in 45 of his 47 matches since returning from a 20-month suspension, after being one of 10 Chinese players sanctioned for match-fixing violations.
While he did not directly lose any matches intentionally, Zhao admitted to involvement in another player’s fixing scheme and placing bets on matches himself.
Following his ban, Zhao lost his spot on the World Snooker Tour, but he has since regained his tour card and will return as a professional next season.
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