Mark Williams - closing in on top spot.
WILLIAMS CLOSE TO NUMBER ONE SPOT
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Mark Williams stands three frames away from becoming snooker's new number one
for next season after taking a grip on his Embassy World Championship
quarter-final against Stephen Hendry in Sheffield.
The Welsh left-hander resumes in the morning with a 10-6 lead after taking
both of the day's sessions 5-3.
And unless seven-times champion Hendry can find some inspiration over the
closing nine frames then his own dream of regaining his number one spot will
have vanished for another 12 months.
Williams made his bid for the semi-finals and pole position in the rankings by
capturing the last three frames of the evening after Hendry had done his best to
keep pace with his great rival.
Indeed, the 34-year-old Scot has been ahead only once during the first 16
frames, taking the opening frame on the black.
He was soon playing catch-up as Williams made breaks of 131 and 115 in three
frames.
The UK and Masters champion rarely reaches three figures in his haste to get
on with the match.
But his desire to carry on cueing suggested how badly he wants the win and the
number one ranking from Ronnie O'Sullivan.
Hendry's patchy victory over compatriot Drew Henry in the previous round
guaranteed a top four place on the snooker ladder.
But he must win the title on Monday night to get back to the summit for the
first time in five years.
The first four frames of the evening session were shared before Hendry's
latest Crucible century brought him back to 7-6.
Just when it seemed he was poised to get on terms for the first time since
frame six 28-year-old Williams pulled clear again with breaks of 48, 41 and 80.
The winner will play Stephen Lee or Marco Fu for a place in the best of 35
frames final. Lee and Fu resume tomorrow afternoon tied at 4-4.
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