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Williams beats Higgins in tense decider to reach Crucible semi-finals
Mark Williams celebrates winning his game against John Higgins, on day twelve of the Halo World Snooker Championship at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield, April 30, 2025

MARK WILLIAMS held off a superb fightback from fellow former winner John Higgins today 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 today’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.

The 95th Anniversary Appeal
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