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Williams beats Higgins in tense decider to reach Crucible semi-finals
Mark Williams celebrates winning his game against John Higgins, on day twelve of the Halo World Snooker Championship at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield, April 30, 2025

MARK WILLIAMS held off a superb fightback from fellow former winner John Higgins today to triumph in a last-frame decider and reach his eighth World Championship semi-final at the Crucible.

The veteran duo, who have won seven world titles between them, were locked at 8-8 at the end of their second session before Williams put himself on the brink by taking all four frames on today’s resumption.

Four-time champion Higgins, though, dug in following the mid-session interval with breaks of 94, 114 and 67 to force a decider, which Williams took after his opponent missed a tense blue on the top cushion to seal a 13-12 victory.

Williams, who had trailed 5-1 earlier in the match, made the most of some unforced errors from Higgins, 49, to edge in front and then extend his lead to 10-8.

A couple of half-century breaks from the Welshman, who claimed the last of his three world titles in 2018, saw him seemingly close in on victory at 12-8 heading into the interval.

However, having regrouped, Higgins clawed a frame back before firing in 94 to move within two.

Williams, 50, then gave away a careless foul after touching the blue with his trailing arm when he was leaning over to pot a long red with the rest.

Higgins made the most of the opportunity, digging in again to build a fine 114 break.

The Scot missed a frame-ball red along the bottom cushion after a break of 67 in the next but was still able to force a final-frame shootout.

With both men running out of position when looking set, the deciding frame turned into a safety battle before Higgins caught the bump on the middle pocket, which allowed Williams in to edge in front 56-52.

Higgins sunk a red with the rest after Williams missed a tricky long red, then rolled the brown in on the top cushion only to miss the blue.

Williams clipped it in before finishing off the pink and black to seal a dramatic 74-69 victory.

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