CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS 2024: MARK WILLIAMS CLAIMS FIRST CAREER WIN OVER KYREN WILSON TO REACH SEMI-FINALS
Mark Williams broke his hoodoo against Kyren Wilson after a thrilling 6-5 win in the Group 3 final at the Champion of Champions. Both players claimed two century breaks in their respective 11 frames, but it was Williams who prevailed against the current world champion.
Attention now turns to Group 2 and Judd Trump’s clash with Ding Junhui in Wednesday’s first scheduled match.
Mark Williams claimed his place in the Champion of Champions semi-finals after a pulsating 6-5 victory over Kyren Wilson.
It was the Welshman’s first career victory over this year’s world champion, in a match that showcased some brilliant snooker from the start.
Wilson drew first blood after Williams inadvertently sunk the cue ball and worked his way to an impressive opening break of 87.
Williams responded majestically and ruthlessly punished Wilson’s missed red on his way to an outstanding break of 109.
However, the reigning world champion bounced back after Williams missed on the yellow in a cagier third frame.
The Warrior was able to clear everything up to the black in a contest which looked early on like it might go the distance.
The Welsh Potting Machine continued that narrative with an ultimately decisive break of 72 which came to an end with a missed red.
Wilson returned to the table in vain and would concede the frame to ensure both players went into the break on level terms.
Wilson missed a relatively routine long red to the top pocket to end a potential frame-winning break at 38.
The Welshman responded with a methodical break of 44 and Wilson needed two snookers to re-establish his lead.
They did not materialise, as Williams returned to the table and cleared up to the black to move 3-2 ahead.
The sixth frame was in sharp contrast to the fifth, with Wilson racing towards his first century break of this contest at 105 to capitalise on an early miss from Williams.
The theme of big break building continued when Williams secured one of 140, and he cleared up the table in style to take a 4-3 lead.
Williams then pulled two frames clear in a keenly-contested eighth frame that ultimately swung his way when he moved 51-48 ahead after a red-yellow combination.
He cleared up to the pink and laid down the gauntlet for Wilson, who needed to win the next frame to stay in the match.
Wilson did so with aplomb and after spreading the balls nicely, he motored towards another century break, this time at 123, to reduce the deficit back to one.
An 11th and final frame decider beckoned when Wilson secured a hard-fought break of 58 at the end of an attritional safety battle.
Williams was edging towards victory, though Wilson briefly returned with reds left on the table.
However, he decided to concede the frame after a failed attempt to lay a snooker on the last red.