Mark Williams edged out John Higgins in a tense 13-12 victory at the World Snooker Championship, advancing to his eighth semi-final.
After leading 12-8, Williams withstood a remarkable Higgins comeback that forced a final-frame decider, where a missed blue sealed the Scotsman’s fate.
Williams credited his calm mindset for the win.
✨ Content Highlights (At-a-Glance)
- Williams led 12-8 after a strong opening Wednesday session.
- Higgins fought back with breaks of 94, 114, and 67 to tie it 12-12.
- Final frame drama ended with Higgins missing a key blue ball.
- Williams wins 13-12, booking his 8th semi-final appearance.
- Ronnie O’Sullivan leads 10-6, aiming for an 8th world title.
- Zhao Xintong advances to his first semi-final after a 13-5 win.
In a match that felt more like a chapter in snooker history than just another quarter-final, Mark Williams held off a powerful comeback from fellow legend John Higgins to secure his place in the semi-finals of the World Snooker Championship—his eighth in a storied career.
A Duel Between Titans
Two giants of the green baize—Williams and Higgins—resumed play on Wednesday morning locked at 8-8, with decades of legacy and seven world titles between them.
The Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, already steeped in drama and memory, became the perfect backdrop for what would unfold as a battle of will, pride, and mutual respect.
Williams, the 50-year-old Welsh icon, wasted no time asserting his dominance, sweeping the first four frames of the day to move 12-8 ahead.
But Higgins, ever the warrior and a four-time world champion himself, responded with remarkable grit—unleashing sublime breaks of 94, 114, and 67 to force a deciding 25th frame.
The Crucible crowd, sensing the magnitude of what they were witnessing, held their breath as tension gripped the final moments.
Then came the heartbreak: Higgins missed a nervy blue along the top cushion, opening the door for Williams to step through and seal a memorable 13-12 victory.
“A Match to Cherish Forever”
“There was not one bit of nerves,” Williams said, reflecting on the moment with a calm born of decades at the sport’s summit. “From 12-8 to 12-all I hadn’t done much wrong, and I thought, ‘What can I do?’”
But it wasn’t frustration that colored his words—it was gratitude. “It’s just a pleasure playing now. We got a standing ovation walking in and everyone was cheering. You have to enjoy it because you don’t know how many times you’ll be coming back here.”
His words echoed the sentiment shared by many watching—this wasn’t just a snooker match, but a celebration of everything these two men have given to the game over the years.
The Legacy Continues
Elsewhere at the Crucible, another legend of the sport, Ronnie O’Sullivan, continued his quest for an unprecedented eighth world title.
Holding a 10-6 lead over China’s Si Jiahui heading into the final session, O’Sullivan remains the heartbeat of modern snooker—an enduring reminder of greatness.
Meanwhile, a new chapter in snooker history might be unfolding. Zhao Xintong, representing a nation still seeking its first world champion, inched closer to that dream.
Needing just one frame on Wednesday to progress, Zhao did just that—dispatching Chris Wakelin 13-5 and reaching his first-ever semi-final.
More Than a Game
What unfolded at the Crucible this week was more than a display of elite skill—it was a touching tribute to the sport itself.
It reminded fans that snooker is about legacy, resilience, and moments that leave a lasting impression.
Whether it’s veterans like Williams and Higgins putting on a masterclass or rising stars chasing their history, one truth remains: the spirit of snooker lives on in every break, every frame, and every ovation from the crowd that reveres it.