MARK WILLIAMS set up a sensational second round match-up with John Higgins at this year’s World Snooker Championship after defeating Sam Craigie 10-4 on Wednesday evening.

The first round match was finely poised going into the evening session with Williams leading the Crucible debutant 5-4. 

It looked like it might need all 19 frames to decide the winner, but the Welshman sped into a 9-4 lead by the mid-session interval before finishing the job with a break of 94 — the highest of the match — in the 14th frame.

“Tonight I played really well, to be honest,” Williams said after winning five frames in a row.

“Every part of my game was strong and I kept him under pressure. I don’t think he did much wrong.”

Williams’s match with Higgins gets underway this afternoon and sees the pair face each other at the Crucible for the first time since their epic 2018 final in which Williams triumphed 18-16.

Williams and Higgins, along with Ronnie O’Sullivan, are referred to as the Class of ’92 — the year the three turned pro. They have been among the most successful players in the game since then, winning 13 World Championships between them since Higgins first did so in 1998.

“I’m looking forward to facing John Higgins,” Williams added. “I’ve lost count of how many times we have played. We’ve had so many good games here. Close ones.

“The [2018] final I played him was probably the best match of my life, just because of the standard, the atmosphere and the drama at the end. 

“This one isn’t going to be as good, but I’m going to enjoy it, win or lose.”

The 46-year-old Williams often downplays his own game, but this almost cavalier approach can make him a dangerous opponent. 

His average shot time of just over 18 seconds makes him currently the fastest player in the tournament, according to the World Snooker Tour statistics — even quicker than the Rocket, O’Sullivan.

Williams’s impressive display on Wednesday night was matched by that of Barry Hawkins on the other table. 

The 41-year-old left-hander was smooth and methodical around the table as he defeated Matthew Selt 10-3, racking up breaks of 76, 126, and 82 to get the job done with a session to spare.

“It’s all about confidence,” said Hawkins after his win. “If you have that behind you then you can get on a roll.

“How you handle it out there is huge. It’s nice when you are playing well, but it’s the toughest place in the world when you are struggling.”

2013 finalist Hawkins will meet last year’s runner-up Kyren Wilson in a second round match which begins this morning.