World number one Mark Williams has won through to Saturday’s semi-final after beating Welsh counterpart Matthew Stevens 6-4 in a keenly fought contest at the Citywest Hotel in Dublin this afternoon.
The players were level on two frames apiece at the mid-session interval but Williams, who had struggled in those early stages, regained the form that has taken him to the number one spot.
Williams later won two frames on the trot to establish a 5-3 lead and needing one more to win the match.Stevens hit back in the next with asplendid break of 120 to close the gap to one frame.
But after a bout of safety play surrounding a cluster of reds inthe middle of the table, Williams extended his advantage in the tenth frame before Stevens conceded defeat.
Williams will play the winner of tonight’s other quarter-final between Alan McManus and former world number one Stephen Hendry.
Full report to follow