Williams positive after booking final spot
Mark Williams, intent on reversing an alarming slide down snooker’s pecking order, today reached his first world ranking event quarter-final for 11 months.
The Welshman, who has slumped from 1st to 19th on the provisional world list over the past two seasons, turned a recent tide of mediocrity with a 5-1 second round victory over Nigel Bond in the Malta Cup.
“That’s the best I’ve played for 18 months. I didn’t miss much and I felt a lot better,” said Williams, who seized control of the contest at the Portomaso Hilton Conference Centre with breaks of 71, 76, 98 and 92 in the opening four frames.
“I’ve been practising loads lately and hopefully the results will come because of that.
“I haven’t deserved anything for the last couple of years. I admit I’ve been lazy but now I’m putting the work in like I used to.
“It got to a point where I was going to tournaments expecting to lose but then I looked at my ranking. It was a joke and I knew I’d got to start being a lot more dedicated.”
Williams, who sunk to 25th in the provisional rankings at his lowest ebb after October’s Grand Prix, added: “My aim is to get back to a situation where players know they’ve got to perform well to beat me.”
Twice world champion Williams is now hoping to extend his revival and stay in the Mediterranean by beating either Joe Perry or fellow Welshman Dominic Dale for a last four appearance.
However Shaun Murphy, the holder of the sport’s most coveted title, was heading for the airport following another disappointing defeat.
Murphy, who having passed the halfway mark in his season as world champion has not progressed past a quarter-final in six tournament outings, crashed out 5-4 to feisty Scot Graeme Dott after being in command at 4-2.
Dott launched his fightback with runs of 44 and 45 to take frame seven and after forcing a decider shaded it on the green.
Even so the 2004 Crucible runner-up was not enamoured with his performance or the playing conditions, saying: “I thought the match was rubbish. The table was horrendous. In fact it was nearly unplayable.”
Finland’s Robin Hull, the first round conqueror of Steve Davis, secured only the second world ranking event quarter-final of his 13 year professional career by beating Barry Hawkins 5-3.
Hull, now recovered from a mystery virus that plagued him for two years, constructed breaks of 53, 59, 133, 104, and in the closing frame 76 during his impressive display. He goes forward to face Dott.
