Williams denies Higgins in last-frame epic as O’Sullivan, Trump and Xintong surge into World Championship semi-finals
Williams halts Higgins’ comeback (Photo credit: Every Second Media/Alamy Live News)
Mark Williams held off a gallant fightback from John Higgins to prevail in an epic last-frame decider and reach the semi-finals of the World Snooker Championship on Wednesday.
Higgins had hit back from 12-8 down to force a decider, only to miss the final blue and watch Williams make the clearance to advance to the hallowed one-table setup at The Crucible.
The Class of 92 duo were locked level at eight apiece heading into the final session, but it was Williams who took control of the match with four consecutive frames, firing in breaks of 73, 53 and 52 to move within one of victory.
Higgins, however, rallied back with breaks of 94, 114 and 67 on his way to clinching four frames on the spin to force a nail-biting decider.
The Scot looked to be on course to complete the comeback, but only to miss a tricky final blue and allow Williams off the hook to clear the remaining colours and book his place in an eighth Crucible semi-final since 1998.
“Unbelievable game, unbelievable finish. The blue I played was probably one of my best shots for many years,” Williams told BBC Sport.
“What a blue…balls of steel. It was tough a shot. I could have gone in-off. I could have over cut it. I just went for it full-blooded.
“There was not one bit of nerves, maybe I’ve only had them a handful of times in my entire career.”
Higgins, who was bidding to follow up his recent Tour Championship triumph with a fifth world title, admitted: “I had the chance on the blue, it was difficult.
“You’re struggling to see pockets at that point of the game really. He potted a great blue, pink and black so every credit to him.
“I got my chance and I never took it, so no complaints.
“I’ve had a good season and the atmosphere out there was incredible. There’s no better place to play when you win or lose. It’s heart-breaking but it’s one of those things. He’s a great champion.”
Williams will now face Judd Trump in the semi-finals after the world number one produced a timely late burst to defeat Luca Brecel 13-8.
Trump led 5-3 heading into the second session, but only for Brecel to reverse the damage in a spell-binding afternoon which saw him produce breaks of 73, 114, 59, 51 and 92 to draw level at eight apiece.
However, it was Trump who turned on the style at the business end of the contest, reeling off five frames in a row when they returned in the evening to storm into his sixth Crucible semi-final.
The 2019 World Champion followed up a break of 115 in frame 17 with a 116 in the 18th to make it 104 centuries for the season and eclipse Neil Robertson’s record.
Meanwhile, Ronnie O’Sullivan remains on course for a record-breaking eighth world title following a 13-9 success over Si Jiahui.
O’Sullivan had established a 6-2 lead following Tuesday’s opening session which saw both players register a century apiece, and the duo shared the next eight frames to leave the 49-year-old 10-6 in front, with Si having added a break of 101.
The Chinese star took the opening two frames of the final session to cut the gap to two, before O’Sullivan steadied the ship with an 82 break to make it 11-8.
A 58 break saw Si apply further pressure, but the pivotal moment arrived in frame 21 as O’Sullivan landed a clinical clearance to snatch the frame and move within one of victory.
The seven-time World Champion then powered in a break of 74 to confirm his place in a 14th semi-final in what is his 33rd World Championship appearance.
“I’m just grinding it out but I’m still in so I’ll keep punching away and keep trying,” O’Sullivan told BBC Sport.
“He played poorly for the whole match really, he let me off the hook loads of times, so yeah, I got lucky again.
“I’ve had some work done on my cue today and I’m probably going to have to try and get a new ferrule and tip because it feels awful.
“I’m playing awful and the cue feels awful so it is the worst situation to be in as a snooker player. I don’t think I can get any worse.”
O’Sullivan will meet Zhao Xintong in the Last Four, after the 28-year-old swept aside Chris Wakelin 13-5 to continue his landmark run.
Zhao, a former UK Champion, has now won 45 of 47 matches played since returning from a 20-month ban after he was one 10 Chinese players sanctioned in a match-fixing scandal.
Having stormed through four qualifying matches as an amateur to reach the main event for just the second time, Zhao continued his serene progress in Sheffield by reeling off six consecutive frames on Tuesday to lead 12-4.
Wakelin took the opening frame of the final session to stop the rot, but could only delay the inevitable as Zhao dominated frame 18 to seal a comprehensive win, despite a high break of just 92.
World Snooker Championship 2025 Quarter-Final Results
Wednesday April 30
Zhao Xintong 13-5 Chris Wakelin
John Higgins 13-12 Mark Williams
Judd Trump 13-8 Luca Brecel
Ronnie O’Sullivan 13-9 Si Jiahui
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