Mark Williams reaches quarter-finals in quest to end ranking event drought

Updated 24/11/2017 at 11:26 GMT

Mark Williams moved a step nearer his first ranking tournament win since 2011 with a 4-2 victory over Dave Gilbert in the last 16 of the Northern Ireland Open in Belfast.

Mark Williams is through to the last eight.

Image credit: Eurosport

On a day that saw his fellow icons Ronnie O'Sullivan and John Higgins exit the tournament in the last 32, tournament favourite Williams kept his composure to book a place in the last eight with his success against Gilbert following on from a 4-1 win over Akani Songsermsawad earlier in the day.

Williams will meet Mike Dunn - a 4-1 victor against Joe Perry - in the quarter-finals, a player he has never beaten in 26 years on the circuit.

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"I've lost a few quarter-finals, but fingers crossed I keep knocking on the door and I reach the semi-finals," said Williams, whose last tournament win came at the 2011 German Masters.

"You wouldn't see so many shocks as this normally, but it is random draw here and that is what best-of-seven frame matches do.

"In best-of-sevens, they aren't really shocks. If I win it great, if I don't then I'm not really bothered either way."

Williams is playing against the backdrop of personal worry with his wife Jo at home after being in hospital with suspected viral meningitis.

Mark Williams at the Northern Ireland Open.

Image credit: Eurosport

"I'm just enjoying competing, and playing much better," said Williams, who enjoyed scoring runs of 79, 75, 63 and 62. "When I get chances, I think I can make a break. If a tournament wins comes out of it then great, if I don't I'll keep plugging away.

"If you are not thinking this is your best chance to win a ranking tournament, there is something wrong with you. Everyone will be looking at who is left in.

"This is the best chance for anyone to win a tournament. There are no names. No disrespect, but there are no big names left in.

"Anyone can win it and I'm sure there will be a lot of twitching going on over the next few days."

Elsewhere, Robert Milkins completed a 4-2 win over Ricky Walden.