Ronnie O'Sullivan

Mark Williams produced a “terrific pot” in his Masters quarter-final against Ronnie O'Sullivan at Alexandra Palace on Thursday. Stream the 2023 Masters and ...

Ronnie O'Sullivan took a one-frame lead in his Masters quarter-final against Mark Williams after a supreme 115 break at Alexandra Palace on Thursday.

Mark Williams survives losing the opening three frames to beat Ronnie O'Sullivan in the Masters quarter-finals on Thursday afternoon.

While O'Sullivan was able to bounce back and take an absorbing contest into a decider, Williams put 30 on the board before going on to make a 102 break in a separate visit, much to the appreciation of the crowd. The veteran Welshman built on that with an 83, and although O'Sullivan responded to reopen his two-frame advantage, Williams rolled back the years with a 143 break - his highest-ever effort in this tournament - to remain in contention. O'Sullivan was able to take the opening three frames, commencing the match with a 115 break and moving 3-0 ahead before Williams responded with 55 break.

Seven-time champion Ronnie O'Sullivan is knocked out in the quarter-finals of the Masters, beaten 6-5 by Mark Williams in a thrilling contest.

"That was a special match between two of the great players, they produced the good. "He played the better snooker and was more clinical. Williams won the Masters in 1998 and 2003 and, asked if he could win a third, he replied: "I am not going to go that far. I hung in there, the battling qualities forced a decider. "You are playing the greatest player ever, if I don't beat him for another 20 years I don't care. I fancied beating him."

Mark Williams ended an eight-year wait for victory over Ronnie O'Sullivan by storming back from a three-frame deficit to win 6-5 and reach the semi-finals ...

I had the chance in the last, but when you’re not cueing well blacks like that are missable. and I don’t think I’ve beaten him in the UK for 20 years. But Williams was not to be denied victory, making the most of another O’Sullivan error to build a match-winning 102.

Mark Williams says he fancied beating Ronnie O'Sullivan ahead of their Masters quarter-final on Thursday and that's exactly what he did in a classic at ...

‘I was pleased how I dug in there, so can’t be too disappointed. The Rocket took the sixth frame but then Williams got on a roll, winning the next three on the spin, starting with the tournament’s high break of 143 and finishing with a superb clearance of 59 to go 5-4 ahead. But I just fancied my chances. O’Sullivan made a century and two half-centuries in the contest but felt he just didn’t break-build anywhere near his best and Williams deserved the victory after his two centuries and four other breaks over 50. ‘Obviously he’s not as good as he used to be but he’s still the best player in the world by far, for me. Things looked forlorn for Williams as the Rocket built that early lead, but he stayed calm and showed the confidence of a man who thought he could beat the best player of all time.

Ronnie O'Sullivan surrendered a 3-0 lead to crash out of the Masters following a remarkable comeback by Mark Williams, who moves into the semi-final.

Mark Williams pulled off one of the greatest comebacks in Masters history, recovering from 3-0 down to beat old rival Ronnie O'Sullivan 6-5 in a classic at ...

Ever the predator, Williams stepped in with a quite magnificent clearance of 59, pulling off outstanding pots on the last four colours. I made a cracking 70 to finish it off. "It's electric, it always is when you play Ronnie in London.

Mark Williams fought back against Ronnie O'Sullivan to book his spot in the Masters semi-finals.

O'Sullivan holds the record for the most Masters titles in snooker history with seven, although he has not added to that haul since 2017. "I just didn’t score," explained O'Sullivan. "I had a long red but I knew, if I missed, that he’s probably going to clean up the frame. Snooker legend Steve Davis then interjected, explaining: "Just to be fair to him, [the commentator] didn’t say anything funny, he was just talking about you being between the two shots. Williams' fightback was a spirited one, however, and he notched the highest break of the tournament so far - 143 - before O'Sullivan forced a crunch decider. The first three frames therefore went according to script as he raced into a commanding 3-0 lead, including breaks of 115 and 79.

Mark Williams ended an eight-year wait for victory over Ronnie O'Sullivan by storming back from a three-frame deficit to win 6-5 and reach the semi-finals ...

Williams capitalised with a frame-winning 55 break and, with the help of a wonderful underarm shot, delivered a decisive 83 in the next. Williams was punished again when he missed a risky red with the rest and O’Sullivan compiled a frame-winning 79 break. O’Sullivan held the upper hand throughout and a clearance of 44 doubled his advantage.

Williams' hopes of beating the seven-time Masters champion and world number one seemed distant as O'Sullivan surged into a 3-0 lead at Alexandra Palace on ...

and I don’t think I’ve beaten him in the UK for 20 years. Williams was punished for missing a risky red with the rest in the third frame as O’Sullivan compiled a decisive break of 79 but the contest began to turn before the interval. But the Welshman – who clawed his way back into the contest with a then outright tournament-best break of 143 – won three successive frames to lead his fellow veteran 5-4.

It's quarter-final time! Ronnie O'Sullivan and Mark Williams kick off proceedings on Thursday in a hotly-anticipated match.

We've got young pretenders: Jack Lisowski v Hossein Vafaei. It wasn't a total gimme but it wasn't a brute either, and Mark takes a moment; he knows this is a crucial visit, and when he doesn't screw back far enough following his opener, he has the thinnest of cut-backs to sink the black, then kisses the brown ... Next visit, he tries for one to right-middle from the top cushion and gets close, but instead leaves a thin cut to the same pocket which Mark takes well before nuzzling up to the yellow. Mark nicks home a tight starter to left-middle then does similar with one to right corner, and he's looking good in the frame. He takes the yellow, but overruns a little, and though he looks sanguine about a red he has to guide into right corner, parallel with the top rail, he misses it; can Mark punish him? Another nervy shot leaves Ronnie with a thin cut-back red to keep the break going; he plays it well, and is now in decent control, taking red-blacks. The pink is blocking the path to the yellow, but other than that, there are no obvious impediments to the clearance which will put mark one up with two to play, and no reasons at all to think he won't find a way. A loose brown means a tricky blue - it goes down, of course - but a massive shot is now required to get the pink into the yellow pocket while getting on the black ... But this is Mark J Williams we're talking about, so he cuts it home to right corner like it's nothing and this now feel over. But now it's time to go again and we've another belter in store: Jack Lisowski v Hossein Vafaei! Then, when he finds himself in and around the pack, he takes one on to right-middle, misses, and this is now another chance for the Prince of Persia. Jack misses frame-ball, a cut to left corner, but Hossein needs everything and red, yellow and brown are on the bottom cushion.

Williams' hopes of beating the seven-time Masters champion and world number one seemed distant as O'Sullivan surged into a 3-0 lead at Alexandra Palace on ...

and I don’t think I’ve beaten him in the UK for 20 years. Williams was punished for missing a risky red with the rest in the third frame as O’Sullivan compiled a decisive break of 79 but the contest began to turn before the interval. But the Welshman – who clawed his way back into the contest with a then outright tournament-best break of 143 – won three successive frames to lead his fellow veteran 5-4.

Ronnie O'Sullivan lost to Mark Williams in the quarter-finals of the Masters.

Speaking after his loss, O'Sullivan rued making "too many mistakes", but ultimately paid credit for the level of snooker his opponent was producing and gave his support for Williams to take home the trophy on Sunday. "I was happy to get it 5-5, I had the chance in the last, but when you’re not cueing well - blacks like that are missable. It’s just the way it goes. O'Sullivan still looked in charge as he held a 4-2 lead following a mini-Williams fightback. Williams finally got on the board just before the interval and came back after the break reinvigorated. O'Sullivan looked on course to reach his 15th Masters semi-final after racing to a 3-0 lead.

The Welsh Potting Machine aimed to show exactly why he has that nickname when he tried to pot a ball using just one hand in his thrilling Masters match with ...

Williams will go on to face Jack Lisowski in the semi-finals this weekend after he defeated Masters debutant Hossein Vafaei in the last eight. I have been playing well for a while and I am over the moon." I was happy to get it to five and, when you are not playing well, those blacks can be missed." I hung in there, the battling qualities forced a decider. "And on this occasion it was not effective but at least he has been able to run to safety.” While those in attendance enjoyed the shot however, there were some fans on social media who were not impressed, and one even called the Welshman a “show-off’.

Williams' hopes of beating the seven-time Masters champion and world number one seemed distant as O'Sullivan surged into a 3-0 lead at Alexandra Palace on ...

and I don’t think I’ve beaten him in the UK for 20 years. Williams was punished for missing a risky red with the rest in the third frame as O’Sullivan compiled a decisive break of 79 but the contest began to turn before the interval. But the Welshman – who clawed his way back into the contest with a then outright tournament-best break of 143 – won three successive frames to lead his fellow veteran 5-4.