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MARK Williams cruised into the final four of the Masters with a 6-4 victory over a poor Shaun Murphy.
The Welsh left hander showed glimpses of his best form with a solid potting display against the former World Champion who was kept quiet for much of the game.
But it was Murphy who began the stronger as he snatched the opening frame with a break of 57 after an initial effort of 43 from Williams. But from there there was only ever one man in charge. And it certainly wasn't Murphy as in frame two he surrendered a 42 lead when running out of position- and left Mark an easy red to the centre in the process. The Welshman doesn't miss opportunities of this ilk - certainly not when the balls are well spread, and Shaun was forced to sit in his chair and watch his opponant make a decisive 76 to level at 1-1.
From there Mark seized total control of the match as a wild sttempt at a long red, played with too much pace saw Shaun scatter the reds into pottable positions. The surprising thing was that Mark could only make 53. He didn't have long to wait for another chance as Murphy played a loose safety shot that left Williams a red to the centre. This time there was no mistake as a 56 wrapped up the frame and with it a 2-1 lead.
Murphy was getting his chances, but he just couldn't convert on them. No better example was shown than in frame four when he had two good opportunities that he couldn't score a single point from. Mark had one chance, and he made a frame clinching 71 from. The lesson is a stark one, if the chances aren't taken then you pay for it.
Mark then took full advantage of the reeling Murphy by an audacious red from under the baulk cushion. To an extent it was the only available option as there was no obvious safety shot. But they don't put an asterisk against that, merely a points score and it was another heavy visit from Williams as a 62 break left Murphy staring 4-1 in the face.
Having been shut out for over an hour Murphy badly needed the sixth frame and a long red, to remind everyone what he is capable of led to a 100 break closed the gap to 4-2. Williams though refused to let it affect him as he won a scrappy seventh frame to stretch his lead to 5-2.
But Shaun Murphy was not about to throw in the towel as he chisselled out a break of 57 to reduce his arrears to 5-3, including a long straight blue that if he had missed would surely have handed the match to Williams at that point.
Murphy's back was to the wall - and it was here that he produced flashes of his best. He drilled in a long straight red from the baulk area and Williams was left to make himself comfortable in his chair as the Englishman closed out the frame with 97- faltering on the final red. With the score now poised at 5-4 the Wembley fans began rubbing their hands with glee. They expected a titanic tussell- and it was duly turning into one.
But Williams merely forgot about losing the previous two frames as he dispatched a long red to the top corner pocket and proceeded without much trouble to 54. And here was the moment that was to have a massive influence on the outcome of the match. A tricky red to the centre when just about stuck on one of them dropped in and Williams banked a further nine points for 63. Scampering away to safety of the baulk cushion the remaining six reds were in the open. One more mistake from Shaun and it would be all over.
Or maybe not when Murphy missed a mid length red to the top corner leaving Mark an tempting red to the centre pocket. Hampered by the green the red bounced in the jaws and stayed out. A lifeline had been thrown and Murphy seemed to have grabbed it with both hands. He dropped the red in and then pieced together a break of 27 before jawing the final red in the pocket. To his immense relief Mark rolled in the red and added a further five points to lead 69-33 with just the colours remaining. The end was nigh. Murphy needed three snookers to snatch the frame, and try as he did the Welshman's tactical nous held firm before scrambling in the yellow to seal victory and with it a date with Ronnie O'Sullivan in the semi finals who saw off Peter Ebdon with the help of a break of 106 in the ninth frame to seal a 6-3 victory.
Suzy Jardine
The Welsh left hander showed glimpses of his best form with a solid potting display against the former World Champion who was kept quiet for much of the game.
But it was Murphy who began the stronger as he snatched the opening frame with a break of 57 after an initial effort of 43 from Williams. But from there there was only ever one man in charge. And it certainly wasn't Murphy as in frame two he surrendered a 42 lead when running out of position- and left Mark an easy red to the centre in the process. The Welshman doesn't miss opportunities of this ilk - certainly not when the balls are well spread, and Shaun was forced to sit in his chair and watch his opponant make a decisive 76 to level at 1-1.
From there Mark seized total control of the match as a wild sttempt at a long red, played with too much pace saw Shaun scatter the reds into pottable positions. The surprising thing was that Mark could only make 53. He didn't have long to wait for another chance as Murphy played a loose safety shot that left Williams a red to the centre. This time there was no mistake as a 56 wrapped up the frame and with it a 2-1 lead.
Murphy was getting his chances, but he just couldn't convert on them. No better example was shown than in frame four when he had two good opportunities that he couldn't score a single point from. Mark had one chance, and he made a frame clinching 71 from. The lesson is a stark one, if the chances aren't taken then you pay for it.
Mark then took full advantage of the reeling Murphy by an audacious red from under the baulk cushion. To an extent it was the only available option as there was no obvious safety shot. But they don't put an asterisk against that, merely a points score and it was another heavy visit from Williams as a 62 break left Murphy staring 4-1 in the face.
Having been shut out for over an hour Murphy badly needed the sixth frame and a long red, to remind everyone what he is capable of led to a 100 break closed the gap to 4-2. Williams though refused to let it affect him as he won a scrappy seventh frame to stretch his lead to 5-2.
But Shaun Murphy was not about to throw in the towel as he chisselled out a break of 57 to reduce his arrears to 5-3, including a long straight blue that if he had missed would surely have handed the match to Williams at that point.
Murphy's back was to the wall - and it was here that he produced flashes of his best. He drilled in a long straight red from the baulk area and Williams was left to make himself comfortable in his chair as the Englishman closed out the frame with 97- faltering on the final red. With the score now poised at 5-4 the Wembley fans began rubbing their hands with glee. They expected a titanic tussell- and it was duly turning into one.
But Williams merely forgot about losing the previous two frames as he dispatched a long red to the top corner pocket and proceeded without much trouble to 54. And here was the moment that was to have a massive influence on the outcome of the match. A tricky red to the centre when just about stuck on one of them dropped in and Williams banked a further nine points for 63. Scampering away to safety of the baulk cushion the remaining six reds were in the open. One more mistake from Shaun and it would be all over.
Or maybe not when Murphy missed a mid length red to the top corner leaving Mark an tempting red to the centre pocket. Hampered by the green the red bounced in the jaws and stayed out. A lifeline had been thrown and Murphy seemed to have grabbed it with both hands. He dropped the red in and then pieced together a break of 27 before jawing the final red in the pocket. To his immense relief Mark rolled in the red and added a further five points to lead 69-33 with just the colours remaining. The end was nigh. Murphy needed three snookers to snatch the frame, and try as he did the Welshman's tactical nous held firm before scrambling in the yellow to seal victory and with it a date with Ronnie O'Sullivan in the semi finals who saw off Peter Ebdon with the help of a break of 106 in the ninth frame to seal a 6-3 victory.
Suzy Jardine
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