• Mark Williams’ quarter-final with John Higgins went down to the final black
  • Williams came back to the table needing to pot the final three balls on the table
  • He held his nerve to book his place in the semi-finals at the Crucible 

By DAVID COVERDALE

Mark Williams hailed his ‘balls of steel’ after beating fellow Class of ’92 member John Higgins on the final black in a Crucible classic.

Higgins fought back from 12-8 down to force a deciding frame in Wednesday’s quarter-final, before missing a tough blue which would have put him into the last four.

Williams then seized his chance, potting blue, pink and blank to clinch a 13-12 win and keep him in the hunt for a fourth world title.

‘What a blue – balls of steel,’ said the 50-year-old Welshman. ‘There wasn’t one bit of nerves or shaking on any part of any shot.’

Williams admitted he felt ‘drained’ after Tuesday night’s session, when the scores were locked at 8-8, and he played Tom Jones hits Delilah and A Boy from Nowhere in his dressing room on Wednesday morning to get him in the zone.

He also said he might now be forced to cancel the eye surgery he had booked in for June, having complained before the tournament that his eyesight had ‘completely gone’.

Mark Williams held his nerve to beat John Higgins on the final black at the Crucible

Mark Williams held his nerve to beat John Higgins on the final black at the Crucible

Williams was pushed all the way by his old rival after leading 12-8 at one stage

Williams was pushed all the way by his old rival after leading 12-8 at one stage

Williams claimed his 'balls of steel' got him over the line, and he is into another semi-final

Williams claimed his ‘balls of steel’ got him over the line, and he is into another semi-final

‘I’ve got a big decision to make now – do I cancel my op?’ Williams added. 

‘I don’t know. I haven’t played with glasses yet, but that was my next step – the big Dennis Taylor glasses!’

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Mark Williams credits his ‘balls of steel’ for sealing dramatic deciding frame quarter-final win over old rival John Higgins – as Welshman stays on course for fourth world title

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