World number one Mark Williams reached the semi-finals of the Benson and Hedges Masters at Wembley last night with a 6-4 victory over Stephen Hendry.
Williams grabbed an early 2-0 cushion before Hendry rattled off three frames in succession to lead 3-2. Williams levelled at 3-3 before the see-saw tussle saw Hendry regain the impetus with a fourth half-century. That was to be Hendry’s last chance, however, as Williams edged the next two frames to complete the semi-final line-up.
Afterwards, Williams said the amount of time he’s putting in on the practice table is beginning to reap dividends. “I know Stephen can play better than that but then again so can I. I had a bit of run but nothing I don’t deserve because I’m putting in the work on the practice table,” he said, before admitting “I just wasted a year after winning the world title, I didn’t practise as hard as I should have done but now I’m practising as hard as ever.”
Williams will play Jimmy White in the semi-finals.
Filed by Tom Grealis
