Williams beats Higgins in quarter-final thriller

Three-time winner Mark Williams held off a spirited John Higgins fightback to win a Crucible classic 13-12 on the black as he reached the semi-finals of the World Championship.

Resuming at 8-8 on Wednesday, Higgins was initially left to rue costly misses in each of the first four frames as winner Williams reeled off all four with three half-centuries along the way.

Williams, 50, who had trailed 5-1, took the 20th frame but was then largely confined to his chair as four-time champion Higgins delivered a stirring response from 12-8 down.

The 49-year-old, who appeared to be labouring, suddenly found his rhythm and compiled breaks of 94, 114 and 67 to set up a dramatic finale.

Both players had opportunities to clinch a tense final frame but when Higgins rattled the jaws of the corner pocket on the blue, the Welshman capitalised to become the oldest player to reach the last four since 52-year-old Ray Reardon in 1985.

Williams' victory over Higgins means he will face Luca Brecel or world number one Judd Trump in the semi-finals.

In Wednesday morning's other quarter-final Ronnie O'Sullivan maintained his four-frame lead over Si Jiahui and will take a 10-6 lead into the concluding session at 19:00 BST.

Leading 6-2 overnight, 'the Rocket' traded frames with world number 13 Si to head into the mid-session interval at 8-4.

O'Sullivan, who is bidding for a record eighth crown in the modern era, went 9-4 up when Si missed a red to the left middle when 43 points ahead with 43 remaining.

Despite that setback, the 22-year-old from China, who had compiled a century in the 10th frame, took the next took with runs of 61 and 52.

O'Sullivan, though, showed all his experience to take the 16th frame with a break of 64 to restore a healthy cushion.

It leaves the Englishman on course for a a record-extending 14th appearance in the semis.