By Elliott West
“Proud to still give these youngsters a game”.
Mark Williams
Introduction
Anyone who thinks the World Championship should be moved from the Crucible Theatre to another location should think again after the sheer epic semi-final encounter between Judd Trump and Mark Williams. This location always produces snooker magic and this match had it all, drawing two fantastic players who are part of a league that produces snooker from the gods. Critics of the snooker who brand it boring should have tuned in and they would quickly be converted to being a disciple of this fascinating game that often feels like a rollercoaster with the brake removed.
An Epic
This match could have easily been mistaken for a Crucible final with both players losing blood, sweat and tears in their attempt ti reach another World Championship final. In a match which was a game of two halves, Williams clearly struggled on the first day, hitting a brick wall after his quarter-final battle with Yan Bingtao. However, after a good night’s sleep, the Welshman produces some of his vintage form, clawing back like a mountaineer that was clinging to a precipice by his fingertips. Trump saw a 12-5 advantage evaporate before his eyes with Williams taking five frames in succession. to go 12-10 behind, including a break of 137. An evening session that ended 13-11.
When play resumed, Williams continued to be the better player and at one stage had a 16-15 lead. However, his opponent was done and dusted quite yet and produced a spirited comeback that drew these two icons of snooker level again at 16-16. So it was only fitting that this match would conclude with a deciding frame.
Safety dominated this decider with both players playing the part of Houdini. As Judd and Mark slugged it out, you could hear a pin drop in the moments of suspense and the crowd roared when they were required to. The tide of victory swirled between the two with both having opportunities to clinch the crucial frame. However, a fluked red from a snooker from Trump put Williams back in but he missed a tricky black. Two outrageous cross-doubles really sealed this match for Judd and Mark wasn’t able to escape the shredsville of requiring snookers to win the frame.
Afterthoughts
A victorious but somewhat weary Judd Trump emerged victorious in this match, winning 17-16 but Mark Williams should be proud of his efforts in this match and the tournament in general, where he made 16 centuries, equalling Stephen Hendry’s record set 20 years ago, a sterling crusade from this 47-year-old from South Wales.
Of course, this tournament is not over yet and Judd will have to reset himself for another two day battle with Ronnie O’Sullivan over 35 frames, a man who managed to win quite comfortably against his great contemporary John Higgins 17-11. A match that ended with Higgins whispering a congratulatory well done in his ear.
