Williams takes lead against McCulloch
Two-time Embassy world champion Mark Williams snatched a slender 5-3 advantage over Preston’s Ian McCulloch with a cool display of potting in their entertaining second-round clash at The Crucible.
The Welshman, winner of the world crown in 2000 and 2003, compiled two century breaks – 133 and 102 respectively – to give the Lancashire left-hander plenty to think about.
It was an excellent long pot in a black ball-decided final frame of the session which saw Williams earn himself a welcome two-frame cushion.
Having missed a routine red into the middle on a break of 62, Williams was given a reprieve when McCulloch, himself on a break of 36, ran out of position on the black he needed to secure a 4-4 scoreline.
That error proved costly and after a couple of safety exchanges, Williams, full of confidence after his memorable 147 maximum earlier in the week, held his nerve to sink the black and deny McCulloch the chance to level.
McCulloch admitted afterwards he was happy with a 5-3 scoreline, although to have finished at 4-4 would have been a “real bonus” in the circumstances.
