Last year's surprise package Si Jiahui revelled on the Crucible stage again, beating three-time winner Mark Williams 10-9 with a fantastic break in the deciding frame of a 10-9 victory in the opening round of the Cazoo World Championship.
On his debut in 2023, Si beat Shaun Murphy 10-9 in the first round and went on to reach the semi-finals before a narrow 17-15 reverse against Luca Brecel. Recognised as one of snooker's most exciting young prospects, the 21-year-old from China clearly has the talent to win titles and, after the match, was tipped by Williams as a future Crucible king. World number 23 Si will face Jak Jones in the second round.
In the first half of the current season, Si struggled to live up to the promise he showed here last year, but in February he enjoyed a run to the final of the German Masters where he was runner-up to Judd Trump. He almost missed out on the Crucible as he trailed Ben Mertens 9-7 in his first qualifying match but fought back to win 10-9, then saw off Wu Yize 10-4 on Judgement Day and is now inspired by the atmosphere at the Theatre of Dreams.
World number six Williams played some of his best snooker of recent years at the recent Tour Championship, beating Ronnie O'Sullivan in the final, but the 49-year-old becomes the sixth seeded player to fall in the first round, joining Luca Brecel, Mark Selby, Ali Carter, Gary Wilson and Zhang Anda.
Leading 5-4 overnight, Williams had a chance to take the first frame today but missed a tough pot on the last red to a baulk corner when he trailed 34-52, handing Si the chance to square the match. It was a similar story in frame 11 as Williams had the balls at his mercy but, down 35-67, his attempted pot on the last red to a centre pocket hit the far jaw. Again Si took advantage to go ahead at 6-5, and a break of 61 in the next doubled his lead.
In the 13th, Si compiled a run of 67, then Williams had a chance to clear but failed to pot the penultimate red to a centre pocket, and in jest the Welshman offered his cue to a fan in the crowd as another frame slipped away. After the interval, Williams dominated two frames to close to 8-7, but in the 16th he made a safety error when trailing 33-4, leaving a red over a corner pocket which allowed Si to make 48 and go two up with three to play.
In frame 17, Si led 39-14 when he missed the pink to a centre pocket. Williams made 36 before playing safe, and he later converted a superb long pot on the last red which created the chance to close to 9-8, then runs of 38 and 51 in the next set up the decider. Welshman Williams went for a tough red to centre and it hit the far jaw, and that proved his last shot as Si compiled a tremendous match-winning 77 which included several difficult pots to keep the break going.
Si, who is based in Sheffield, said: "Mark missed a few chances and I went 8-5 ahead. Towards the end I wasn't as calm. I always felt like the challenger, trying to take him down. I'm very happy to beat such a difficult opponent. I have no target at this tournament and I am trying not to feel any pressure, I'm just focussing on each shot. I know there is more attention on me this year, more people watching me and I don't want to let them down."
Williams said: "I didn't play well until I came from 9-7 to 9-9. I missed a tricky one to the middle and he made one of the best breaks I have ever seen under pressure. He is a future World Champion, no question, he has the potential."
On the other table, Mark Allen moved within three frames of the second round as he opened up a 7-2 lead over Robbie Williams. Breaks of 70 and 80 helped Allen to a commanding advantage ahead of Wednesday afternoon's conclusion.