Mark Williams Stands Tall In ‘Class of ’92’ Showdown At Crucible

Mark Williams. Pic: Alamy

Mark Williams has won the world title three times - 2000, 2003 and 2018 - but the old passions are burning brightly again at The Crucible.

Mark Williams continues to defy the years and challenge the elite, as he drew level at 8-8 with long-time rival John Higgins in a thrilling World Championship quarter-final that pays homage to snooker’s golden generation.

The cue man from Cwm, who turned 50 in March, is the oldest man to reach the quarter-finals at the Crucible since Steve Davis in 2010 — and he’s proving age is no barrier when it comes to mixing it with the sport’s finest.

Facing off against Higgins, 13 days shy of his own 50th birthday, the pair are serving up another classic reminiscent of their epic 2018 final, when Williams emerged victorious 18-16.

Their high-quality duel has swung back and forth. Higgins began in charge, building a 5-1 lead with a string of half-centuries, but Williams fought back with grit and finesse, winning six of the next seven frames — including a century break of 104 and an earlier 92 — to briefly take control.

Higgins, however, countered by winning the 14th and 15th frames, the latter sealed with a polished 70, to edge in front once more.

But after failing to pot a long red in the next, Williams capitalised with a composed break of 65 to lock the match at 8-8 going into Wednesday’s final session.

The clash marks the oldest last-eight showdown at the Crucible since 1979, when Eddie Charlton faced a 65-year-old Fred Davis. And yet, neither Williams nor Higgins appear ready to step aside for the next generation.

Their enduring presence, along with Ronnie O’Sullivan — who also leads his own quarter-final 6-2 — speaks volumes about the longevity of snooker’s legendary ‘Class of ’92’.

“There was a big element of [competition] in the early part of our careers,” said O’Sullivan, who sits on course for a record eighth modern-era title. “If one did well the others wanted to do better.

“John was the first to win a World Championship, then it was Mark, then me. You’re always wanting to keep up with them.

“I think that stopped a long time ago. We keep going as it is. I’m not sure how much longer we can keep going on for, though. There are so many young players coming through.

“I think we just love the game. We love playing, we love competing. Without it, you think, what would I do with my time? A lot of it is that as well.”

Williams, Higgins and O’Sullivan — with 14 world titles between them — are still cutting a path through a younger field, proving that passion, professionalism and a hunger to win are ageless qualities.

Their success, O’Sullivan says, is as much about love for the sport as it is about trophies.

Elsewhere at the Crucible, O’Sullivan looks poised to advance, holding a 6-2 advantage over Si Jiahui.

Si showed flashes of brilliance — including a century break to draw level at 2-2 — but faltered late in the session. A missed black at a critical moment opened the door for O’Sullivan, who responded with a ruthless 121 clearance to close the session in control.

Zhao Xintong, also making headlines, is one frame from the semi-finals. The Chinese player, returning to form after a lengthy ban, leads Chris Wakelin 12-4 after two sessions, having opened up a 6-2 cushion on day one.

And in another mouthwatering match-up, defending champion Luca Brecel clawed back to 5-3 against Judd Trump with breaks of 128 and 73, after Trump had stunned the crowd with back-to-back centuries of 106 and 110 — moving him to within one of Neil Robertson’s season record of 102.

But while others chase milestones and future greatness, it is Williams, the oldest man left standing, who once again commands the spotlight — not just for his past triumphs, but for showing he still belongs among the best.