Mark Williams loses to Ding Junhui in World Championship as Marco Fu shines
By Mark Ashenden
Last Updated: 28/04/16 6:14pm
Ding Junhui demolished Mark Williams 13-3 with a session to spare to reach the World Championship semi-finals.
The Chinese star was in stunning form to blow away the Welshman after racking up at least a half-century break in every frame.
Having started the match in similarly dominant fashion by building a 6-2 lead, Ding did not let his foot off the gas by taking the first four frames on Tuesday evening to lead 10-2.
Williams, a two-time Crucible champion, was short of ideas as he managed to pot just two balls before the mid-session interval.
Although he showed a brief spark by winning frame 13, there was no holding back Ding who stormed over the line.
Williams told World Snooker: "I got beat easily and to be honest deep down I knew I was going to get beat easily, so I can't grumble.
"With the players left in, it was probably my best chance to win the World Championship again and I felt really confident. But as soon as my tip split last night, I knew that my chances were gone."
While Ding, who has still to win the World Championship, added: "I controlled the match, I took my chances to make breaks. I have confidence and every time I see a chance I think I can go for it and make breaks.
"Mark didn't play the way he normally does. The day off is a bonus, I've never had that before, and I'm going to enjoy the day. I feel more relaxed now, in this match I released a lot of pressure, I went for crazy shots."
After the high of his win over Ronnie O'Sullivan, Barry Hawkins came crashing down to earth in Tuesday's afternoon session at the Crucible against Marco Fu.
Hawkins withstood a stirring fightback by O'Sullivan from 12-9 to win a final-frame decider on Monday night but struggled badly against Fu to fall 7-1 behind.
Four-time world champion John Higgins leads Alan McManus 5-3 in their all-Scottish clash, while Mark Selby went 6-2 up against Kyren Wilson.
