Mark Williams beats John Higgins in tense decider to reach Crucible semi-finals

Mark Williams held off a superb fightback from fellow former winner John Higgins to triumph in a last-frame decider and reach his eighth World Championship semi-final at the Crucible.

The veteran duo, who have won seven world titles between them, were locked at 8-8 at the end of their second session before Williams put himself on the brink by taking all four frames on Wednesday’s resumption.

Four-time champion Higgins, though, dug in following the mid-session interval with breaks of 94, 114 and 67 to force a decider, which Williams took after his opponent missed a tense blue on the top cushion to seal a 13-12 victory.

INSTANT CRUCIBLE CLASSIC

Mark Williams wins the ‘Class of 92’ derby 13-12 over John Higgins.

WHAT A FINAL FRAME!

Two legends. One epic match