“That Was My Best” Says Magnificent Mark Williams After Rolling Back The Years To Edge Crucible Classic

Mark Williams hailed one of the finest shots of his career after emerging victorious in a gripping quarter-final showdown with John Higgins — sealing a 13-12 win on the final black to book his place in the World Championship semi-finals.

The Welsh wonder, now 50, withstood a fierce late comeback from his long-time rival to become the oldest player to reach the last four at the Crucible since Ray Reardon in 1985.

Having seen a 12-8 lead evaporate, Williams held his nerve in a thrilling decider that swung both ways before he sank the final colours to complete a 74-69 frame and cap a night of high drama.

"Unbelievable game, unbelievable finish. The blue I played was probably one of my best shots for many years," said a jubilant Williams afterwards.

"What a blue...balls of steel. It was tough a shot. I could have gone in-off. I could have over cut it. I just went for it full-blooded.

"There was not one bit of nerves, maybe I've only had them a handful of times in my entire career."

Three-time world champion Williams, whose last triumph came in 2018, continues to defy time and opponents alike.

The Cwm cue-man had resumed the final session locked at 8-8 with Higgins, but came out firing, capitalising on a series of uncharacteristic errors from the Scot to take the first four frames of the day. 

With three half-century breaks and a smooth cueing rhythm, he raced to a 12-8 advantage and looked on course for a comfortable win.

Inspired, perhaps, by belting out Tom Jones’ Delilah on his way to the venue, Williams rode his momentum while Higgins, who had earlier built a 5-1 lead in the match, appeared increasingly out of rhythm.

However, after the interval, the four-time champion roared back in style. 

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Higgins produced a vintage burst of scoring, compiling contributions of 94, 114, and 67 to reel off three consecutive frames and force a nerve-wracking decider.

Williams admitted: I didn't think John was going to miss. From 12-8 to 12-12, I'm sat there and haven't done anything wrong really. I was thinking: 'what can I do?'

“I felt drained this morning because we had two tough sessions [on Tuesday]. I just kept playing Delilah and A Boy From Nowhere by Tom Jones over and over when I was getting ready.

“I was still playing and singing them in the dressing room just to try and stay with it because it's tough out there, especially the older you get.

"I've got to enjoy it because I don't know how many times I'm going to keep coming back here."

A beaten Higgins reflected: "I was poor the first four frames, but after the interval I had nothing to lose and played maybe the best four-frame burst of the whole event.

"I had my chance. If I pot the brown and roll through, maybe the blue is unmissable, but you are under that much pressure.

"It was an incredible atmosphere. I am devastated right now but the atmosphere we got in there is why we keep playing the game."

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The deciding frame was as tense as the rest of the contest. Both players had chances, but mistakes crept in as pressure mounted. 

Williams edged in front 56-52 after a safety exchange, but Higgins then pounced when Williams missed a long red. He clawed his way back in, only to rattle a decisive blue off the jaws.

That left the door open, and Williams stepped through, coolly slotting the blue before clearing the pink and black to claim a famous 13-12 victory.

The win puts the world number six into his eighth Crucible semi-final and sets up a mouth-watering clash with world number one Judd Trump, a rematch of their 2022 semi-final. 

It also marked Higgins' first loss in a final-frame decider at the Crucible since 1996 — a testament to the quality of Williams' performance under pressure.

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