SHEFFIELD, England — Mark Williams clawed his way into the World Snooker Championship semifinals on April 30, outlasting John Higgins in a heart-stopping 13-12 thriller that came down to the final black ball at the Crucible Theatre. The Welsh veteran, 50, stared down a fierce comeback from his Scottish rival, who had battled back from a 12-8 deficit, only to falter on a critical blue in the deciding frame. Williams, cool as steel, potted the last three colors to seal the win, booking his eighth career semifinal spot in snooker’s biggest showcase.
The match was a war of nerves, a gritty display of precision and pressure that left the Sheffield crowd gasping. Williams, a three-time world champion, surged ahead early, dominating the morning session with a string of sharp breaks—his highest a 104—to lead 10-6. Higgins, also 50 and a four-time Crucible king, looked shaky, missing pots he’d normally sink blindfolded. But the Scot found his fire in the evening, reeling off four straight frames to level the score at 12-12, his cue action smooth as ever, his breaks of 87 and 92 pure class.
In the decider, tension choked the room. Higgins, one ball from victory, faced a tricky blue along the cushion. He clipped it, but the ball rattled in the jaws of the pocket, refusing to drop. Williams, gifted a lifeline, stepped up. His hands didn’t shake. A pressure blue, a nervy pink, and then the black—rolled in with the calm of a man potting in his local pub. The Crucible erupted. Williams raised a fist, his grin half-relief, half-defiance.
Both players, born just months apart, showed why they’re still giants of the game, trading safety battles and long pots like they were back in their 20s. Williams’ win sets up a semifinal clash against either Jak Jones or Si Jiahui, with the Welshman chasing a fourth world title, his last coming in 2018. Higgins, gutted but gracious, heads home after another deep Crucible run.
The match, lasting over nine hours across two days, drew 980 spectators to the Crucible’s intimate arena, with millions more watching on BBC and Eurosport broadcasts. Williams, ranked world number eight, now stands two wins from snooker immortality. The semifinal begins May 1.