Mark Williams eased into round two

Snooker results: Mark Williams and Anthony McGill through to round two

By Sporting Life

Snooker

Mon April 18, 2022 · 3y ago

Mark Williams made four centuries in a 10-3 victory over Michael White in the first round of the Betfred World Championship, his 20th win in a Crucible opener.

Williams is 47 years old and making his 24th appearance in the televised stages in Sheffield, but has rarely played better in the opening round as he eased into the last 16. Having seen off one fellow Welshman, he now faces another in practice partner Jackson Page, who he describes as 'like a fourth son.'

Just like fellow Class of 92 members John Higgins and Ronnie O’Sullivan, Williams remains a regular face at the business end of the biggest tournaments, three decades after turning professional. He won the British Open at the start of this season, and reached the final of the Shoot Out as well as the semi-finals of the Cazoo Masters.

On the evidence of his performance against White, the left-hander is playing well enough to add the the world titles he landed in 2000, 2003 and 2018.

His match against Page, which starts on Thursday afternoon, will be among the most intriguing of the second round. Williams has tipped his young apprentice for success for several years and will now see at close hand how Page handles the biggest occasion of his career so far.

"It’s going to be tough because Jackson’s not just a friend, he’s like my fourth son," said Williams, who led White 7-2 overnight and had no trouble sealing a convincing win. "He comes to my house, we play cards, have pizzas with my kids, play badminton and golf – you name it, we do it together. Unless he blanks me for the next two days then I assume we’ll be having something to eat together tonight.

"I’m going to try my best against him but if I am going to lose to anybody then it would be him. If I lose I will have no problem at all. If it means him getting into the top 64 by beating me then I am half on his side. I know he’s got the talent, I’ve been telling you all for years. He played so well last night (beating Barry Hawkins) and proved me right."

Williams took a 7-2 lead in the first session against White, making breaks of 121, 90, 71, 116 and 138. He won the first two frames on Easter Monday before White pulled one back with a break of 83. But White – only the second amateur to play at the Crucible – couldn’t even force an interval in the second session as Williams wrapped up the contest in frame 13 with a 121.

Williams added: "I started off like a train, put Michael under pressure and didn’t really ease up. My safety was good. To win 10-3 in the first round is unusual these days, especially against someone as good as Michael. The atmosphere here is like nothing else.

"My form is as good as it can be at my age. In any sport you start declining when you get to my age. My eyes are deteriorating a little bit, but I am dangerous, whoever I play.

"I’ve played well most of the season. A few rubs here and there have stopped me winning a couple of tournaments – with a bit more luck I could have won the Masters or the Tour Championship."

Wins for Allen, McGill

Also on Monday, Anthony McGill fended off a dogged challenge from Liam Highfield to win 10-7. McGill had led 6-3 but his advantage was cut to a single frame as Highfield took the first mini-session 3-1, but McGill benefited from the interval and took the next two to move within one of victory.

A break of 51, one of eight half-centuries in a match where the highest break was 73, sealed matters and ensures McGill awaits either Judd Trump or Hossein Vafaei in round two.

Mark Allen also progressed to a second-round meeting with Ronnie O'Sullivan, beating Scott Donaldson 10-6.

Allen's Crucible record is poor for a player of his standing and he was second best early on, but centuries either side of the break helped him to lead 5-4 and Donaldson was unable to force his way back into the match.

Neil Robertson made three centuries to lead Ashley Hugill 6-3, but the latter had led 3-1 at the mid-session interval as the tournament favourite found himself under early pressure.

However, Robertson added breaks of 72, 97, 109 and 132 to his opening 127, seemingly taking the match away from Hugill ahead of Tuesday's final session. Stuart Bingham leads Lyo Haotian by the same 6-3 scoreline.