Mark Williams to face John Higgins in World Championship quarter-finals

Williams resumed his last-16 clash with Hossein Vafaei nursing a two-frame advantage, and he continued to keep the Iranian at arms lengths until finishing the match with a sublime 115.

In a contest which started poorly but improved through the three sessions, Williams always appeared to have matters in control, even when Vafaei put together breaks of 74 and 72 to pull the score back to 11-10.

Williams, bidding to be world champion for a fourth time, remained typically unflustered and put himself within touching distance of victory by dominating frame 22, before finishing the job in style to complete a 13-10 triumph.

Williams will face old foe Higgins in the last eight, the Scot coming through a deciding frame with Xiao Guodong after the players had earlier been pulled off at 12-11 to make way for the afternoon session.

Xiao had kept his hopes alive by winning what proved to be the final frame of the morning after Higgins had criminally missed a black off the spot when closing in on victory, and the Chinese was given another lifeline in the penultimate frame.

Once again, Higgins was on track for victory until missing frame ball, meaning he had to regroup one more time in order to book his place in what will be his 19th Crucible quarter-final.

Thankfully, there were no alarms in the decider, Higgins in first and building a 44-point lead and then closing out the match with a 75 clearance to the pink.

Williams excited by 'incredible occasion'

Williams earlier told World Snooker Tour: "It would be an incredible occasion, given the stage we are at in our careers.

"The reception would probably be like the Masters when we played in 2022 and we had a standing ovation.

"The last few times I have come here, I am just trying to enjoy the moments because I don't know how many times I will be back. I don't know how I am still playing to a fairly decent level.

"A lot of frames could have gone either way. I made a lot of really good breaks. I missed easy ones too but that's what I do. When you miss an easy one you just have to get on with it.

"I made a fabulous break in the last frame. When I came to the table I thought if I could make 30 I would be in a good position, so to make a century was unbelievable."

Higgins added: "I had two good chances at 12-11, but that maybe settled me down.

"I was thinking to myself that I’d had chances. The Snooker Gods were maybe beginning to go against me when I potted the pink.

"He’s such a tough player, Xiao. We were matching each other punch for punch. There was good stuff and long frames with good safety.

"I thoroughly enjoyed the game. It was great to be a part of it and I’m delighted to come out on the winning side."

'Friendly rivalry' set for latest chapter

On his last-eight showdown with Williams, Higgins said: "25 years ago myself and Mark would have been big rivals. Now we just walk into the practice room sometimes and give each other a nod, as if to say we are still doing alright.

"We are against all these great young talents coming through. We are still in there fighting with them. I think that is a great testament to us.

"Mark is an unbelievable champion. I just can’t wait. I’ll go out there and enjoy it. If I win then great, if I don’t I’ll shake his hand and wish him well."

O'Sullivan and Brecel in command

O'Sullivan's own title challenge continued at pace as he built up a commanding 6-2 lead over Pang Junxu.

It was far from vintage O'Sullivan, and it didn't need to be, as Pang spurned any number of opportunities to get a foothold in the match.

As it was, O'Sullivan was able to feast on his opponent's mistakes, still looking sharp in the balls as he compiled breaks of 58, 91, 50, 63, 68 and 52.

Even more impressive was 2023 champion Luca Brecel who leads Ding Junhui 7-1.

After Ding kicked off with a 141 total clearance, he barely got a look in as Brecel displayed his best form since his Crucible triumph a couple of years ago.

The Belgian Bullet reeled off six breaks of fifty-plus, including two centuries, in a breathless display that suggests he is a genuine title contender once again.

Meanwhile, Zhao Xintong leads Lei Peifan 10-6 after another session in which the former UK champion proved the stronger player.

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