English Open: Neil Robertson wins epic quarter-final against Mark Williams, who makes 147 history in defeat

Robertson began the match in ferocious fashion and took the first three frames without breaking a sweat.

It may not have been a century, but a brilliant break of 73 was enough to get off to the best possible start after Williams made a costly error of missing a red to the middle.

The Thunder from Down Under moved 2-0 ahead with a break of 97, making light work of the Welshman to move two up with roughly only 30 minutes played.

Robertson showed no signs of slowing down and extended his overall lead with a century in the third frame.

But what followed was scarcely believable, as Williams put his mark on the contest with an incredible maximum break of 147 in the fourth frame.

He potted the reds and blacks with ease and in such style too – collecting 15 reds, 15 blacks and then the colours to seal a 147, making history aged 47 years and 270 days.

It was a brilliant break considering how Robertson had dominated the first three frames, and the feat even caught the Eurosport commentary team off guard, as Dave Hendon said: “He’d done nothing for three frames!

“He didn’t get a look in, Neil Robertson was playing so well. But Mark Williams steps in and makes a 147. Absolutely brilliant. What a legend!”

However, it looked like that hugely-impressive feat may have been a flash in the pan from Williams, as Robertson got motoring once again with his second century, a break of 102, to move 4-1 ahead.

But the comeback was on and Williams secured the next two frames, winning the first of those with a break of 67.

The next frame was even more impressive for the Welshman, as the fourth century of the match fell his favour with a stunning break of 123. Suddenly, it was 4-3.

However, the fifth century of the game fell to Robertson, who knocked in a break of 127 in a truly magical match of snooker.

The Australian will face either Ali Carter or Mark Selby in the semi-finals on Saturday.

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