Williams sets up O'Sullivan semi
Thursday, 14 January 2010Mark Williams secured a semi-final place at The Masters after defeating Shaun Murphy 6-4 this evening.
Murphy won the first frame but that was as good as it got for the 2005 world champion, with a break of 76 enabling Williams to level the match.
The left-hander from Cwm went 2-1 ahead with breaks of 53 and 51 and took control of the contest, winning three of the next four frames.
Murphy reduced the deficit to two frames - 5-3 - with an excellent break of 57, and then showed yet more nerve to romp to victory in the ninth frame with a break of 97.
Williams opened the tenth with a break of 63 before stalling, and he then missed a difficult red which kept Murphy in the match.
Murphy cut the gap to 31 before missing a red, but Williams could only take limited advantage as he snookered himself on the yellow.
The players traded safeties until Williams made the decisive breakthrough to advance.
