Williams through to last four
Mark Williams reached his first Crucible semi-final since the year he won his second world title as he finished off Mark Allen’s challenge this morning.
The 36-year-old Welshman triumphed at the Betfred.com World Championship in 2000 and 2003 but has struggled for results in Sheffield in the years since, reaching just one quarter-final in seven years prior to his current run.
He led Northern Ireland cueman Allen 11-5 overnight and soon added the two frames he required, to win 13-5 and set up a last-four clash with John Higgins or Ronnie O’Sullivan.
Allen left a red hanging over a pocket for Williams in the opening frame of the day, which proved costly as a 61 break followed.
When Allen missed a sitter of a red at 39-17 ahead in the next, Williams was in to fire a match-clinching clearance of 65.
