Mark Williams has beaten Benson & Hedges Masters champion Paul Hunter at the Rothmans Malta Grand Prix in Valetta tonight. This win marked the Welshman's fifth consecutive victory over Hunter and means that Hunter cannot now qualify for the semi-finals of this event. Williams will now play Tony Drago for a place in the last four.
It was not a spectacular display of snooker from either player, with the world champion only managing a top break of 45, while Hunter's own top effort was just 63. Williams revealed afterwards that he was treating the tournament as more of practice facility than anything else. " I'm trying my hardest, but I'm just using this week as match practice for when I get back home for the proper stuff," he said.
Meanwhile, in tonight's other match, Stephen Lee ended Joe Swail's interest in the tournament with a 5-3 victory over the Ulsterman. Lee will now take on Irishman Fergal O'Brien for a place in the semi-finals up for grabs.
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
