World number one Mark Williams reached his first ranking tournament semi-final for 10 months last night when he beat Billy Snaddon 5-2 at the European Open. Williams last reached the final four in a ranking event at January's Regal Welsh Open and although he was not at his best against Snaddon, he made the most of his chances to set up a semi-final clash with Joe Perry.
Williams opened up a 3-1 lead after breaks of 58 and 59 and following the mid-session interval, he increased his advantage in a disjointed fifth frame. Snaddon fought back to bring the score to 4-2 but Williams secured victory with runs of 35 and 47 in the seventh frame.
"It's an excellent result even though we both found it hard going," Williams said. "There were a lot of kicks and it was scrappy but those are the matches you have to win. I'm starting to show a bit of form, which is pleasing, and can hopefully go all the way."
"Our matches should be X-rated because they are always shocking," Snaddon joked. "We each had so many chances that I could have won 5-2 myself. I really struggled with the table. There must have been 50 or 60 kicks in the first four frames. We changed the balls and it wasn't so bad but I couldn't settle."
Williams is now strong favourite to make it into the final at Malta at Perry's expense. Perry set up his place in the last four, his first appearance in a ranking tournament semi-final, with a 5-3 victory over Jimmy White and Williams has said he will not be taking anything for granted. "Joe is a tough player and I'm surprised he isn't in the top 16," said Williams of the world number 27. "A few players will have to watch out because he's creeping up and could be a real threat."
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
