World Snooker Championship 2021: Day 11 preview and order of play – Quarter-Finals commence
An elite eight players remain as the World Snooker Championship Quarter-Finals commence on Day 11 at The Crucible.
The mouth-watering line-up includes a record six former champions, with all four ties getting underway on Tuesday.
Among them is a battle of the Marks, as three-time winners Selby and Williams resume their quests for a fourth title.
Both players are also eyeing a seventh semi-final appearance, having prevailed from the second round by 13-7 scorelines – Selby beating Mark Allen and Williams overcoming John Higgins.
The Jester has won seven of the last nine meetings between the players. Although, the Welshman came out on top in their only previous World Championship encounter courtesy of a 13-8 second-round win in 2006.
Elsewhere, Judd Trump and Shaun Murphy are targeting a place in the semi-finals for a fifth time.
Following comfortable wins over Liam Highfield and David Gilbert, world number one Trump is appearing in the last eight for a fourth straight year.
The 2019 champion is yet to produce his peak performance levels in Sheffield, but will be looking to progress through the gears as the second week goes on.
Standing in his way is 2005 winner Murphy, who is back in the last eight for the first time since reaching his third World final in 2015.
Ironically, the Magician was Trump’s first-ever Crucible opponent back in 2007, when he prevailed a commanding 10-5 victor.
But it was the Ace who came out on top in their most recent Sheffield showdown; 13-12 in an epic at this stage of the 2013 tournament.
Meanwhile, Neil Robertson and Kyren Wilson are back in the quarter-finals as they prepare to do battle in another eagerly anticipated clash.
Robertson, the 2010 World Champion, is appearing at this stage for a third consecutive year after beating fellow left-handers Liang Wenbo and Jack Lisowski in the opening two rounds.
For 2020 runner-up Wilson, this is his sixth straight quarter-final after hard-fought victories over Gary Wilson and Barry Hawkins, and he is set for another big test of credentials in his mission to go the extra step.
Robertson and Wilson play the first two of their three allocated sessions – as do Anthony McGill and Stuart Bingham.
For both players, this will be their third Crucible Quarter-Final while eyeing a second appearance in the one-table set-up.
McGill is hoping to achieve that for a second year running, having narrowly lost out 17-16 to Wilson in the 2020 semi-finals, and the Scotsman’s confidence will be brimming following that last-16 win over reigning champion Ronnie O’Sullivan.
Back in the Last Eight for the first time since lifting the trophy in 2015, Bingham is the only qualifier remaining in the competition.
The world number 18 is looking to become only the third qualifier to go all the way at the Crucible – after Terry Griffiths in 1979 and Murphy 26 years later.
The action gets underway from 10am BST, with first and second sessions consisting of a maximum of eight frames each.
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World Snooker Championship 2021 Quarter-Finals Schedule
Tuesday April 27
Quarter-Finals
10am
25 Anthony McGill v Stuart Bingham
27 Neil Robertson v Kyren Wilson
2.30pm
26 Mark Williams v Mark Selby
28 Shaun Murphy v Judd Trump
7pm
25 Anthony McGill v Stuart Bingham
27 Neil Robertson v Kyren Wilson