Mark Williams denies John Higgins on the final black ball to win Crucible classic and reach the semi-finals

With a combined age of 99 years, and seven world titles between them, the eagerly-anticipated quarter-final clash was predicted to be a very close one, but few could have envisaged the entertainment the two snooker legends dished up in the sport's blue riband event.

Higgins began as the match favourite, and took control early on as he established a 5-1 lead, although Williams claimed the final two frames of the opening session to stay in touch at 5-3 down.

In their second session on Tuesday evening, reigning Champion of Champions title holder Williams secured four of the opening five frames to go in front for the first time at 7-6 up, although the pendulum swung again as world number three Higgins deposited the next two frames to go back ahead at 8-7. However, Williams won the final frame of the evening to level proceedings at 8-8 and tee up a fascinating concluding session on Wednesday morning.

Williams - who fashioned a break of 104 earlier in the contest - got off to the perfect start when they resumed, stringing together all four frames in the opening mini-session to move on to the hill at 12-8.

But as we have seen so many times before, the mid-session interval can crack momentum, and it was the case again as a resilient Higgins responded after the break with an onslaught by winning four consecutive frames - featuring a run of 114 - to force the memorable encounter all the way.

The drama cranked up a notch in a scrappy deciding frame, which only heightened the tension.

Both players had less-than-ideal scoring visits, but Higgins earned the first real chance of getting the match won on the colours.

Having potted the brown along the baulk cushion, the Scot faced what was effectively match ball blue into the same yellow pocket near the same rail. However, the shot was a cut back into slightly blind pocket, and Higgins rattled it.

Delighted he was back at the table without requiring penalty points, Williams sank a tricky blue and expertly obtained perfect position on the pink, subsequently keeping his cool to clear up and win a 100% Crucible classic on the very last ball.

Williams has now defeated Higgins in five of their six Crucible match-ups.

The 50-year-old Welshman will appear in the semi-finals of the World Snooker Championship for the eighth time in his illustrious career.

He last featured within the one-table set-up in Sheffield in 2022 where he was pipped 17-16 by Judd Trump. Williams could face Trump again at the same stage over the coming days if the world number one gets past Luca Brecel elsewhere in the quarter-finals.

It has already been a very impressive sequence of results for Williams, who admitted to eyesight issues a few weeks ago, and came into the event having lost his opening match at the preceding Tour Championship 10-3 to Ding Junhui.

Speaking to the BBC shortly after the match, recent World Open and Tour Championship winner Higgins was gracious in defeat: "I had the chance on the blue. It was difficult and you're struggling to see the pockets at the end of the game.

"He potted a great blue, pink, black so every credit to him. He's a great champion.

"I still felt good going into the last frame. Mark had a great pot and I thought he would do what he always does, then I had a chance but I could only make 30.

"It's tough, then I made a bad safety when I was in control of the frame. I got my chance but I couldn't take it.

"I've had a good season, the atmosphere out there was incredible, a standing ovation walking in. There's no better place to play, win or lose."

Victor Williams also described what a thrill it is performing on the sport’s grandest stage: "There was not one bit of nerves. I don't really get it. I've only had nerves a handful of times in my career. When I watch Jackson [Page] and he's at 4-4 my hand is shaking and I'm sweating.

"I wasn't thinking he [Higgins] would miss it. From 12-8 to 12 all I had not done much wrong and I'm thinking 'what can I do?'

"I was drained this morning. Two tough sessions, I didn't finish until half 10. It's top out there, especially the older you get. You play all day, the next day you play in the morning.

"It's just a pleasure playing now. We got the standing ovation walking in and everyone was cheering. You have to enjoy it because you don't know how many times I'll be coming back here."

Please visit our 2025 World Snooker Championship tournament information centre here for details on the draw, results, format and order of play.