Mark Williams battled past rising Chinese talent Wu Yize with a hard-fought 10-8 win to reach the last 16 of the World Snooker Championship for the 22nd time in his storied career. The Welshman, who turned 50 last month, had to draw on every ounce of his Crucible experience to overcome the 21-year-old, showcasing remarkable composure in the final frames.
Trailing 8-7 and with Wu seemingly in control, the young star missed a vital frame-ball red that could have pushed him closer to victory. Williams seized the opportunity, leveling the match before producing back-to-back breaks of 58 and 75 to close out a memorable contest. Despite ongoing concerns about his deteriorating eyesight, Williams’ tactical brilliance and mental resilience proved decisive against an opponent brimming with natural talent.
Wu, part of a new generation of exciting Chinese players, had pushed Williams all the way. Resuming the session just one frame behind at 5-4, he surged ahead in the 15th frame to take a narrow lead. But a lapse in concentration in the 16th proved costly. Williams, sensing the moment, took control and used his vast experience to shut the door.
Elsewhere in a dramatic day of action, Chris Wakelin held off a resurgent Neil Robertson to secure his first-ever win at the Crucible, edging the 2010 champion 10-8. Wakelin began the session with a commanding 7-2 lead, but watched helplessly as Robertson roared back with five straight frames. With the scores level at 7-7, the match hung in the balance, but Wakelin found his rhythm just in time. He twice pulled ahead before surviving a tense 18th frame to complete a major scalp.
Another upset saw Iranian qualifier Hossein Vafaei edge past 11th seed Barry Hawkins in a nail-biting decider. Hawkins had carried a slim lead into the final session, but Vafaei, under intense pressure, pieced together a match-winning break of 73 to claim a thrilling 10-9 victory. His reward is a second-round clash with Williams, promising another intriguing battle of youth versus experience.
Mark Allen, meanwhile, faced a tough opening session against China’s Fan Zhengyi but managed to grind out a 5-4 overnight lead. Fan started on fire, racing into a 3-0 lead with high-quality breaks including 89 and 103. Allen eventually responded with a century of his own and a pair of 50-plus breaks to claw back level. After the next two frames were shared, Allen edged a scrappy ninth to take a narrow advantage into their concluding session.
China’s presence at the tournament continued to grow as Xiao Guodong joined Lei Peifan in the last 16. Xiao wrapped up a comfortable 10-4 win over Matthew Selt, reinforcing the strong form shown by Chinese players throughout the opening stages of the tournament.
Zhao Xintong also made a strong impression. Returning to form after serving a ban for his involvement in a betting scandal, Zhao built a commanding 7-2 lead over last year’s finalist Jak Jones in their first session. Zhao, who had to come through four qualifying rounds, is looking increasingly dangerous as he continues his redemption journey.
With a mix of veteran grit and youthful flair, the 2025 World Snooker Championship is already delivering memorable moments, setting the stage for more high drama in the days to come.
