By Simon Kendal-Williams
Mark Williams booked his place in the quarter-finals of the Betfred World Snooker Championship for only the second time in eight years with a convincing win over Robert Milkins.
Having established a 10-6 lead over the weekend, Williams ensured an early Monday night finish at the Crucible, dropping only one further frame on his way to a 13-7 victory.
The Welshman fired in a 101 break in the opening frame of the session – his fourth century of the tournament – before Milkins took the next to remain in touch.
But further of impressive breaks of 72 and 83 – featuring several trademark long-range pots – saw Williams set up a last-eight clash with Ali Carter.
Despite the comfortable winning margin, he admitted he was not at his best for the majority of the second-round match.
“I was quite poor for the first two sessions,” said Williams, at 43, the oldest player remaining in Sheffield.
“How I ended 10-6 up yesterday is unbelievable, really. I let the conditions get to me and I don’t really know why.”
After a season which has seen Williams claim two ranking titles – the Northern Ireland Open and German Masters – he was pleased to bring some of that form to the biggest stage of all.
“The last session was pretty much how I’ve been playing all season,” he said.
“We’re in the quarter-finals now and I’m just looking forward to playing.
“If I can carry on the way I finished off, I’ll be happy.”
Williams and Carter get their quarter-final underway on Tuesday afternoon, playing to a finish over two further sessions on Wednesday.
Earlier, Ding Junhui wrapped up a surprisingly straightforward 13-4 win over Scotland’s Anthony McGill, before Judd Trump eventually prevailed 13-9 against Ricky Walden.
The ‘Juddernaut’ faces four-time champion John Higgins, while Ding takes on Barry Hawkins.
Kyren Wilson – conqueror of Jamie Jones – plays Ulster’s Mark Allen.