𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

The match-time ticks past the two-hour mark as we begin frame seven. Can Mark Williams haul himself back into this contest?

Hmmm…. That’s not a good sign. He misses a long pot by a country mile – nowhere near the jaws. Maybe Higgins has managed to rattle him?

Higgins pots a red but doesn’t run through far enough to take the black, so just one point for the Scot. No damage done for Willo

There’s been a few little moment that have determined the course of this match so far. This eventual missed brown after Williams had done the hard work in frame four, just before the mid-session interval, was one.

Seemed to change the trajectory of things as the Welshman fell 3-1 behind. It’s now 5-1, of course

Ruthless. John Higgins wins frame six at one visit with a big break and he’s now in complete control of this quarter-final at 5-1.

It’s all about damage limitation for Mark Williams now. He needs to find a way to somehow win the final two frames of this session or as a bare, bare minimum split them. Even then, at 6-2 behind, it’s a mighty hill to climb.

Higgins set about first eradicating Williams’ lead and then building one of his own. The reds are really nicely spread at the business end of the table and the black is available into both pockets. This looks ominous for the Welshman…

The break moves beyond 30, then 40 points with minimal fuss. Just a few more pots for the frame.

Williams pulls out a pot on a red in frame six and he’s in first. Needs a break of substantial proportions really.

Gets to 29 and is left with a really unappetising red to the left corner. It’s never in, hits the near jaw and stays near the pocket.

That allows Higgins to pot it and start a counter attack of his own, only trailing by 29

It doesn’t feel like Williams is playing badly, particularly, but Higgins is just finding a way to grind out the frames. Williams making mistakes at crucial moments.

Either man could have won every frame here so far today. Williams desperately needs to start getting them on the board though. Frame six upcoming.

A significant moment as John Higgins wins frame five and extends his lead to 4-1.

It means that Higgins can’t trail going into this evening’s second session. Can Williams win the remaining three frames to force it back to 4-4 or will the Scotsman have a lead this evening?

Back underway after the interval. Four more frames to play in this session.

Both players have half-chances but no one can make a substantial break, with the high-value colours tied up, until Higgins fashions something.

He builds a lead of around 40 points and because he’s been taking reds off the table, he needs just one more pot to get over the line in frame five. It’s there! Barring snookers, he’ll be 4-1 ahead

It’s been an intriguing first mini-session in this match at the Crucible.

No mistake from John Higgins. Pots brown, blue and pink to win a back and forth frame four.

Really compelling frame, both men could have won it and Higgins will lead 3-1 at the mid-session interval. A good start for the Scot in the race to 13