Mark Williams on Ronnie O’Sullivan blockbuster showdown at Masters snooker – ‘I’m due to beat him’
Mark Williams is aiming to avoid another sting in the tail when he meets old foe Ronnie O’Sullivan in the Masters quarter-finals after overcoming David Gilbert and a wasp in his Alexandra Palace opener on Tuesday night.
Williams began his latest campaign at the sport’s biggest invitational event with delightful breaks of 126, 127 and 95 on his way to a 6-2 victory that saw a gallant Gilbert rally from 4-0 behind with runs of 59, 80, 55 and 64 yet still depart the scene amid some farcical scenes.
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Williams prepares for a quarter-final meeting with O’Sullivan on Thursday afternoon trailing the world champion 33-8 on their career head-to-heads, but knowing their two previous duels at the Masters have been as tight as the space between the 2,000 punters crammed into the Ally Pally.
Williams led 5-4 in the semi-finals in 2010 only to lose 6-5 and was 4-2 clear in the first round in 2016 before being denied by the odd frame in 11.
The ‘Class of ’92’ founding members were also involved in an epic duel at the Tour Championship quarter-finals last March with O’Sullivan completing a 10-9 win from a match that saw him wring out five centuries and four breaks over 50. For his part, Williams weighed in with a century and six 50-plus knocks.
‘Just amazing stuff, it really is!’ – Williams and Higgins get raucous welcome ahead of final frame
“It is going to be brilliant,” said Williams. “It can’t beat the atmosphere when me and (John) Higgins played here last year, but it can be as good. We’ll get a brilliant reception.
“Obviously, they’ll all want him to win, but I’m due to beat him. I’m playing well enough to beat him. Look, I could turn up and lose 6-0 in an hour-and-a-half, no problem.
“He could play out of his skin, but it is just nice to know I’m playing okay myself and let’s see what happens.”
‘Here’s a shot he’s made his own’ – Williams pulls out ‘under the body’ shot to thrill Masters crowd
Williams astonishingly won the first of his two Masters titles 25 years ago with a 10-9 win over Stephen Hendry on the final black.
Either man could become the oldest champion of the elite London event this year.
Mark Williams and Ronnie O’Sullivan after their first meeting at Masters in 2010.
Image credit: Eurosport
Williams v O’Sullivan at the Masters
- 2016 Masters last 16: O’Sullivan 6-5 Williams
- 2010 Masters semi-final: O’Sullivan 6-5 Williams
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