World Championship 2025: Mark Williams had 'ice in his veins' in epic win over John Higgins in quarter-finals at the Crucible

John Higggins and Mark Williams served up a Crucible classic, with the latter securing a 13-12 win to book his place in the semi-finals. Alan McManus told TNT Sports that Williams showed his ice-cool nature in securing victory in the final frame. Watch and stream top snooker action, including the World Championship, live and on demand on TNT Sports and discovery+

'Incredible, amazing, phenomenal!' - Williams beats Higgins in dramatic decider to move into semis

Video credit: TNT Sports

Mark Williams showed he had "ice in his veins" in his win over John Higgins at the World Championship.

Higgins and Williams served up a Crucible classic, with the latter potting blue, pink and black to secure a 13-12 success.

At 50 years of age, Williams is into his eighth Crucible semi-final, and his display in closing out the win after Higgins, 49, had reeled off four frames on the spin left Jimmy White and Alan McManus in awe.

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"He has ice in his veins, this guy," McManus said of Williams in the TNT Sports studio. "I don’t know how he does it, quite honestly.

"Mark Williams was absolutely fantastic, he was brilliant."

Higgins had a chance on the final blue, but it wriggled in the jaws of the yellow pocket - allowing Williams to step in and play a deft cut to set up the win.

'I was really drained' - Williams relieved to get over the line against Higgins

Video credit: TNT Sports

Williams suggested he would have played Higgins' shot dead weight, rather than with pace, and McManus feels that was another signal of his ice-cool nature.

"It was fascinating about the blue at the end, Mark saying he would have rolled it dead weight," McManus said. "John will play it a certain way, Mark will play it a certain way. There is more than one way to get it done.

"He [Williams] is making a really good point, ice man, ice veins. He would have just dropped it in dead weight."

White pointed to a combined age of almost 100 of two players still operating at the pinnacle of the game.

"It was fantastic," White said. "These two guys, two of the best players in the world, 50 years of age.

"This blue is absolutely phenomenal. He’s not sure if he’s going to go in-off, he hits it perfect.

"That was one of the outstanding matches that this amazing place produces."

'Heartbreaking' - Higgins reflects on defeat to Williams

Video credit: TNT Sports

McManus has a close bond with his fellow Scot, and said his "heart bleeds" for Higgins.

"The fact that John had the heart and the belief and the desire to go deep in the trenches, the way he did last year against Mark Allen, just says so much about the guy," McManus said. "My heart bleeds for him."

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Watch and stream top snooker action, including the World Championship, live and on demand on TNT Sports and discovery+

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