Mark Williams is edging closer to an eighth quarter-final appearance at the Crucible after moving 10-6 ahead of Robert Milkins in the second round of the 2018 World Championship. Williams, who didn’t make the event last year after losing in qualifying, almost retired from the sport a couple of years ago after suffering a huge slump in form but, after a talk with his wife, he decided to keep playing.
The Welshman, who lifted the trophy in Sheffield back in 2000 and 2003, has now climbed to seventh in the world rankings and picked up two ranking titles this season – the 2017 Dafabet Northern Irish Open and the 2018 German Masters. He is on course for a first quarter-final appearance at the Crucible since 2016 after opening up a four-frame lead against Milkins, who shocked Neil Robertson in the previous round, in their second-round encounter. Williams, who has also reached three semi-finals during this campaign, made breaks of 65, 87, 53, 69, 58 and 51 to move into a 10-6 lead going into the final sessions. Milkins, who is yet to win a tournament since turning professional in 1995, will still be optimistic of pulling off a victory and he has already showcased his quality throughout the match, making breaks of 55, 74, 68, 51 and 73.
The Englishman, who lost in the quarter-final of the Dafabet Northern Irish Open this season, will be hoping for a quick start when the match gets back underway on Monday night. Williams, an 15/2 chance to win the tournament outright, is the firm 1/33 favourite to move into the last-eight stage whilst Milkins, who has never gone past the second round in Sheffield, is the huge 10/1 outsider.
Snooker odds available at Dafabet.