Mark Williams summoned a sensational charge to come from behind and see off talented Chinese 21-year-old Wu Yize 10-8 and make the second round of the Halo World Championship in Sheffield.
Having lost an epic first round clash 10-9 against another of China’s finest young players Si Jiahui last year, three-time World Champion Williams was determined to come out on the right side this time around. With Wu seemingly in the ascendancy at 8-7 up this afternoon, Williams produced three brilliant frames to power over the line.
The Welshman has shown signs of his brilliant best this season, having won the Champion of Champions in November. Despite this, Williams turned 50 last month and has bemoaned the deterioration of his eyesight, citing his 10-3 loss to Ding Junhui at the Tour Championship as a particular low.
Although he is set for lens replacement surgery in June, he ditched his contact lenses today and it appeared to pay dividends with his performance.
Wu departs disappointed not to score a first match win at the Theatre of Dreams, having lost to Neil Robertson in his only other appearance. However, he can reflect on a fine season, where he reached finals at the English Open and the Scottish Open.
They came into this afternoon with Williams holding a slender 5-4 advantage. Wu immediately levelled up, before a break of 101 saw Williams regain the lead at 6-5. The next two frames were traded to leave Williams 7-6 ahead at the mid-session interval.
When play got back underway, Wu seized the initiative with two on the bounce to move 8-7 ahead. He crucially missed a red with the rest when on the verge of taking the 16th, Williams won the ensuing safety battle and cleared to steal on the black and restore parity.
That proved to be a key turning point, with the 26-time ranking event winner firing in breaks of 58 and 75 in the next two frames to secure a brilliant 10-8 victory. Williams will now face either Barry Hawkins or Hossein Vafaei.
Williams said: “I don’t like saying it, because I’ve just beaten him, but he has the potential to win this tournament. The long potting is just something as good as I’ve ever seen. Every time I broke off and left a long red he potted it, he was incredible. Once he tightens up on a few loose shots he is going to be amazing. I’m glad I’ll be finished before he gets much older.
“I’m not going to out-pot him or out-score him, but I definitely have a better safety game. That is what I had to try and do. I got stronger towards the end and potted a few good ones myself. It is in there, I just have to drag it out.
“It is hard to describe because there is a scoreboard by the black pocket and I can’t see the numbers. I’ve got to get to the blue spot before I can see it. That is nothing to be ashamed of it is just how it is. I’m at the stage where I have to try something like the lens replacement or it isn’t going to get any better.”
On the other table, Mark Allen battled hard to emerge with a 5-4 lead over Fan Zhengyi after their opening session.
Fan is seeking a first ever match win at the Crucible, on his second appearance. Breaks of 61, 98 and 103 gave him an early 3-0 lead this afternoon.
Northern Ireland's Allen needs to win the World Championship to complete snooker's Triple Crown, but so far hasn't progressed beyond the semi-finals. He showcased his fighting qualities today, making contributions of 105, 62, 59 and 89 to take five of the last six frames and end 5-4 up. They return for the final session tomorrow afternoon from 2:30pm.