Mark J Williams maintains his two frame lead over John Higgins - World Snooker Championship 2011
World Number two, Mark Williams, has maintained his two-frame lead against John Higgins, as he ended his second session of the best-of-thirty-three semi-final match with a 9-7 score-line. This event is being staged at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield.
It was yet another devastating performance from the Welshman, Williams, as he produced two century breaks in three frames. However, the current World Number one, Higgins, also put up a spirited performance to stay in the hunt.
The overall score-line between both players as of yet is 52-50, 0-135 (135), 67-1, 73-19, 44-76, 0-127 (120), 74-16, 74-0, 68-0, 0-106, 115-0 (115), 62-70, 103-0 (103), 58-0, 62-65 and 20-59.
The thirty-six-year-old, Williams, who ended his first session with a 5-3 lead, dominated the first frame before his 35-year-old opponent mopped up a frame-winning break of 84 in the next frame. The eleventh frame was over within a blink of an eye, as the two-time Crucible winner, Williams, knocked in a dashing century break of 115. Williams had a chance to surpass Mark King’s highest break of 138, but unfortunately he missed the tricky green in the end.
Williams again attempted for the record in the following twelfth, but failed. He potted seven black balls, but broke down on the blue which refused to get in. Higgins did get a chance to roll in a couple of quick breaks, 42 and 17, to reduce the deficit at 8-5. However, his confidence was again shuttered badly in the fourteenth frame, as the Welsh Potting Machine again fired a magnificent century break of 103, to restore his four frame lead at 9-5.
Williams was almost invincible throughout the match and it looked as if the Welsh player would gain a six frame overnight lead, before the three-time World Champion, Higgins, bounced back into the game and clinched the last two frames, to stay in the hunt.
Both players will fight it out again in their third session today. All is left to see whether the Wizard of Wishaw is able to make a comeback against his opponent, who certainly is on top of his game.
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