Northern Ireland Open: Robbie Williams forgets fire alarm to stun namesake Mark Williams with 4-2 victory

Robbie Williams completed one of the finest victories of his career with a superb 4-2 second-round win over his namesake Mark Williams at the Northern Ireland Open.

It was Mark that drew first blood in a frame where Robbie where did little wrong; Mark was able to clear up to pink in a fine opening break of 120 – his 23rd century of the season.

Robbie made an impressive response though and successful levelled the scores with the cue ball positioned ideally, as he potted a black to the bottom right and then slotted in a red to the opposite corner.

Mark was left needing snookers, but Robbie nevertheless motored onto an impressive clearance of his own at 87.

Robbie moved into the lead with a break of 55 building up some good momentum with a red-black combination, wrapping up the frame with a brilliant long red to the bottom left pocket.

After leaving a snooker for Mark, which led to him fouling on the black, Robbie slotted in another red to seal the frame.

The world No. 9 restored parity with an impressive break of 64, with a missed red to the middle-left pocket counting for little in the end.

It was all starting to come undone for Mark, as Robbie moved back in front with a clearance of 30 despite missing on the red.

This left the pressure all on Mark needing to win the final two frames in order to avoid a surprise early second-round exit.

There was a bizarre incident inside the venue when a fire alarm went off, prompting an evacuation, but that did not stop Robbie’s rhythm.

It was not to be for Mark in a supreme display of snooker for the world No. 51. He finished with another fine clearance of 52 and included a fine red to the left corner.

He will now face Zhang Anda in round three, after he overcame Thor Chuan Leong 4-1

Meanwhile, Hossein Vafaei booked his place in round three with a 4-0 whitewash win over Anton Kazakov, and Aaron Hill won by the same scoreline against Dylan Emery to advance into the last-16.

David Gilbert also prevailed into round three with a 4-3 victory over Matthew Stevens, and Noppon Saengkham beat Barry Pinches 4-1.