Williams edges Higgins to reach world snooker semis
Williams edges Higgins to reach world snooker semis
Welsh star Mark Williams insists he was not in the slightest bit nervous. Photo: AFP
Mark Williams did just enough to stave off a superb fightback from fellow former winner John Higgins on Wednesday to reach his eighth World Snooker Championship semi-final.
The veteran cuemen, who between then have won seven world titles, resumed on Wednesday all square at 8-8 in the best of 25-frames quarter-final at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.
Wales star Williams then moved to the brink of victory by winning the day's opening four frames to go 12-8 ahead.
But four-time champion Higgins ensured the match would go to a deciding frame after the Scotsman reeled off breaks of 94, 114 and 67.
Yet it was Williams who prevailed after Higgins missed a tense blue on the top cushion to seal a 13-12 victory.
"There was not one bit of nerves," Williams, 50, insisted afterwards. "I don't really get it. I've only had nerves a handful of times in my career."
He added: "I wasn't thinking he (Higgins) would miss it. From 12-8 to 12-all I had not done much wrong and I was thinking, 'what can I do?'
"It's just a pleasure playing now. We got the standing ovation walking in and everyone was cheering. You have to enjoy it because you don't know how many times you'll be coming back here." (AFP)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RTHK
8 hours ago
- RTHK
Brazil seal World Cup berth; Uruguay on the brink
Brazil seal World Cup berth; Uruguay on the brink Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior scored the only goal of the match just before the break. Photo: AFP Brazil booked their place at the 2026 World Cup in North America with a 1-0 home victory over Paraguay, the first win of new coach Carlo Ancelotti's reign. The five-time world champions – the only team to appear in every edition of the World Cup – punched their ticket to the finals in Canada, the United States and Mexico thanks to Vinicius Jr. The Real Madrid star fired Brazil into the lead in Sao Paulo, bundling home from close range in the 44th minute after a cross from new Manchester United signing Matheus Cunha. Uruguay's 2-0 victory over Venezuela in Montevideo earlier Tuesday had raised the prospect of qualification for both Brazil and Paraguay at the Corinthians Arena. Paraguay were left needing only a point to qualify after Venezuela's defeat, while Brazil knew they could advance with a win. In the event it was Brazil who seized the opportunity presented by Venezuela's loss with Vinicius scoring the only goal just before half-time. A lacklustre Brazil had struggled to create many chances up until that point, with Cunha squandering a golden chance in the 35th minute after heading wide from point-blank range. But Cunha made up for that miss with a key part in the goal, capitalising on good work from Raphinha to dart into the box and whip in a low cross for Vinicius, who stabbed home the finish. The win lifts Brazil into third place in the South American standings with 25 points from 16 games, guaranteeing them a top-six finish and an automatic qualifying berth. The defeat leaves Paraguay with 24 points, meaning they need one point to secure their first World Cup appearance since 2010. Ecuador can join Brazil by sealing qualification with a point against Peru in Lima later Tuesday. In other games, Uruguay edged closer to qualification with their win over Venezuela while Chile were eliminated with defeat to Bolivia. Goals from Rodrigo Aguirre and Giorgian de Arrascaeta secured all three points for Marcelo Bielsa's Uruguay to leave the two-time world champions firmly on course for a place in next year's finals. Like Paraguay, Uruguay need only a point from their final two games to qualify. Venezuela, who are bidding to qualify for the World Cup for the first time in the nation's history, are seventh with 18 points from 16 games. World Cup holders Argentina, who have already qualified, meanwhile came from behind to frustrate Colombia with a 1-1 draw in Buenos Aires. Liverpool star Luis Diaz fired Colombia into the lead with a superb 24th minute goal, and the Colombians were given a further boost midway through the second half when the world champions were reduced to 10 men after Enzo Fernandez's dismissal. But Colombia's hopes of a vital win were dashed nine minutes from time when Thiago Almada weaved into the box and found the target to level. The top six finishers in South America qualify automatically for the World Cup, with the seventh-placed team advancing to an intercontinental playoff. Elsewhere, Bolivia defeated Chile 2-0 to end the former South American champions' hopes of qualification. It marks the third straight World Cup that Chile have missed out. The loss continues a dramatic fall from grace for 'La Roja', who won back-to-back Copa Americas in 2015 and 2016. (AFP)
RTHK
12 hours ago
- RTHK
Netherlands, Finland cruise in World Cup qualifying
Netherlands, Finland cruise in World Cup qualifying Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk was among the scorers in the Netherlands' 8-0 rout of Malta. Photo: AFP Netherlands maintained their winning start to European 2026 World Cup qualifying by thrashing Malta 8-0, while their group rivals Poland lost to Finland in a match interrupted due to a medical emergency in the crowd. The results leave Finland top of Group G on seven points, one ahead of the Dutch who have played two matches less. Poland sit third on six points after three played. In Groningen, the Dutch raced into a three-goal lead against their overawed opponents inside the opening 20 minutes. Memphis Depay converted from the spot on nine minutes, before doubling the lead with a rifled finish from the edge of the box seven minutes later. Depay's brace brought the 31-year-old to 50 international goals – level with former Manchester United and Arsenal striker Robin van Persie as the Netherlands' all-time leading goalscorer. Captain Virgil van Dijk killed the match off as a tie when he stepped onto the ball and arrowed a right-footed finish into the bottom corner from 20 yards. The Oranje then turned on the afterburners inside the final half-hour as Xavi Simons, Donyell Malen, who got two, Noa Lang and Micky van de Ven all netted. Poland began life without leading goalscorer Robert Lewandowski in miserable fashion as they went down 2-1 in Helsinki. The 36-year-old played 158 times for Poland, scoring 85 goals, but announced Sunday he was no longer available for selection so long as coach Michal Probierz remained in charge. The Poles fell behind to Joel Pohjanpalo's 31st-minute penalty, before Benjamin Kallman added a second nine minutes after the break. Jakub Kiwior pulled one back in the 69th minute, shortly before the match was interrupted when a spectator fell ill. After a lengthy stoppage, the final 10 minutes of play resumed but Poland were unable to find an equaliser despite applying relentless pressure on the hosts' goal. Elsewhere, Serbia eased past Andorra 3-0 to move to third in Group K on four points courtesy of an Aleksandar Mitrovic hat-trick. They trail Albania in second by one point and sit level with Latvia after those sides played out a 1-1 draw in Riga. Austria beat San Marino 4-0 to go second in Group H, three points behind leaders Bosnia and Hercegovina who have played an extra match. Marko Arnautovic scored a brace inside the opening quarter-hour, as Michael Gregoritsch and Christoph Baumgartner completed the scoring in Serravalle. Romania defeated Cyprus 2-0, but dropped to third in the group after Austria's second win from two outings. (AFP)
RTHK
14 hours ago
- RTHK
England stunned by Senegal to put pressure on Tuchel
England stunned by Senegal to put pressure on Tuchel Thomas Tuchel's reign as England manager got off to a shaky start. Photo: AFP England slumped to a 3-1 home friendly defeat by Senegal to ramp up the scrutiny on boss Thomas Tuchel one year out from the World Cup. Goals from Ismaila Sarr, Habib Diarra and Cheikh Sabaly inflicted England's first ever defeat against African opposition at Nottingham Forest's City Ground after Harry Kane had given the hosts an early lead. Tuchel was scathing in his criticism of his side's dreary display in beating minnows Andorra just 1-0 in World Cup qualifying on Saturday. The German, who was appointed with the task of ending England's wait since 1966 for a major tournament win, has now suffered his first defeat in four games in charge. "Not good enough. We had moments, but with and without the ball things aren't clicking, we're not finding the right tempo," said England captain Kane. "We've lost that aggressive nature that we had." Tuchel responded by making 10 changes, with Kane the only player to retain his place. It took just seven minutes for the Bayern Munich striker to maintain his record of scoring in every game since Tuchel took charge. Former Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy should have done better when he could only parry Anthony Gordon's shot into the path of Kane, who tapped in his 73rd international goal. Dean Henderson was given a rare chance to impress in the England goal as Jordan Pickford was relegated to the bench. The Crystal Palace stopper made impressive saves from his club team-mate Sarr and Idrissa Gana Gueye. But he was helpless when Sarr made the most of a lack of concentration from Kyle Walker to meet Nicolas Jackson's cross and fire into the bottom corner. England had never lost to African opposition in 21 previous matches but Senegal had been beaten just once from open play since losing to the Three Lions at the 2022 World Cup. Diarra was afforded acres of room to run in behind the England defence and slot between the legs of Henderson to put the visitors in front just after the hour mark. Mendy made amends for his role in the opening goal with fine saves to deny Bukayo Saka and Morgan Gibbs-White a swift equaliser. England thought they had levelled late on when Jude Bellingham smashed home from a corner. But the goal was ruled out for a handball by Levi Colwill before the ball broke to the Real Madrid midfielder. Senegal made the most of that reprieve to seal a famous win in stoppage time when Sabaly rounded off a slick counter-attack. Boos rained down from the disgruntled home support to leave Tuchel with plenty to ponder before England are next in action in September. (AFP)
