Masters snooker 2022 LIVE: Mark Williams and John Higgins do battle after Neil Robertson defeats Ronnie O'Sullivan
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ByEurosport
Updated 13/01/2022 at 22:50 GMT
Neil Robertson completed a 6-4 win over Ronnie O’Sullivan in the quarter-finals to end the Rocket's quest for an eighth Masters crown this year. He will face the winner of the clash between O'Sullivan's fellow 'Class of ’92' grandees John Higgins and Mark Williams in the last four. Stream the Masters and other top snooker live and on-demand on discovery+.
O'Sullivan, Trump and Selby among the top 10 best shots of 2021
That's us done for tonight
Join us again tomorrow afternoon for more joy.
Mark speaks
He says he's never experienced anything like that - the crowd were unbelievable. They cheered so wildly when the players came out that he couldn't feel his legs, and though pre-match, he wondered how much longer the pair will be part of nights like that, he notes that it was a good standard tonight so they might be useful for a whole yet.
Mark Williams beats John Higgins 6-5!
No ton - a mere 91 - but what a performance, what a break, what a match, what players. Mark plays Neil Robertson in the last four.
Higgins 5-5 Williams (0-75)
This is sensational behaviour, it really is, a nerveless break of expertise, creativity and genius.
Higgins 5-5 Williams (0-60)
Here comes the key shot: into the pack off the blue, and Mark plays it beautifully! Sat on his seat, John looks like someone who's played his last shot, but Mark overruns on a red and has to play a nasty cut-back black, cannoning a red on the cushion. It doesn't work out as planned, but there's a plant on that looks unmissable, problem being he might finish on nowt. The pink, though, is available, just, he drains it, and the crowd are absolutely flying! And Mark J isn't bad neither.
Higgins 5-5 Williams (0-16)
The pair come back out and the crowd go every bit as wild as they should; savour this and savour them, because who knows how much longer we've got to enjoy them. John can't stop smiling and rightly so, he's earned every last whoop of that ovation and then some. But he misses a red to the green pocket and Mark sees it away, but unwittingly clips the green; he might roll up behind the yellow but instead sends it long to left corner, repeats the trick with the green, shots most others would spurn, and having opened the frame he's soon about the black spot. He's looking very smooth out there.
Higgins 5-5 Williams
"Sixty-one and the frame." We're getting the decider we deserve, and I've not a clue as to who'll win it.
Higgins 4-5 Williams (54-0)
Mark attacks a long one to right corner but misses by a distance, then John, on 21, feathers a short one into the far middle knuckle ... and it drops! I said he was 45, but in that split-second he became 96, but he's still pretty good at snooker and this is going all the way!
Higgins 4-5 Williams (14-0)
Mark catches the blue en route back to baulk, leaving a long tempter to left corner; John, still ill from the last frame, sinks it superbly, follows it with a pink to centre ... but soon runs out of position. He doesn't sit down when returning to his chair, because we're at that stage of the night.
Higgins 4-5 Williams
Mark removes all the balls and it's him going one up with two to play. John won't be fazed, though, so this is still anyone's match.
Higgins 4-4 Williams (43-67)
Mark has taken these not just with alacrity but with speed - he's feeling good here, and he makes a difficult contribution look a cinch, sealing the deal with the brown.
Higgins 4-4 Williams (43-39)
Is? Was. After sending in a pink when potting a red in frame seven, this time he sends in a red when potting a black, and John looks very poorly. The remaining reds aren't easy, but Mark is moving about the table with serious purpose. He knows the pain he can inflict by stealing here.
Higgins 4-4 Williams (35-0)
It's John in the ascendancy now, seeing off a fly at the same time as seeing off a red. He's looking very smooth and controlled now, coming on strong at the right time, and is quickly manufacturing a frame-winning opportunity.
Higgins 4-4 Williams
At what point do these two stop being so stupidly good? They're 46!
Higgins 3-4 Williams (109-0)
John takes these beautifully, easing to a second ton of the night, and it's just ridiculous how good he is.
Higgins 3-4 Williams (34-0)
John gets in first, of course he does - no one's getting away now - and a lovely cannon into and off the pack really opens out the frame. I'd be shocked if this isn't soon 4-4.
Higgins 3-4 Williams
The big breaks have gone, and at the moment, it's Mark with the crisper safety.
Higgins 3-3 Williams (7-57)
This game! John sinks a red to the corner and sends the pink down the middle! He doesn't leave anything, but he does when a fine safety from Mark induces a poor safety from him and hands over an easy starter to middle! That is going to hurt, because in a few minutes it's going to be 3-4!
Higgins 3-3 Williams (7-27)
Both players have been brilliant on the long gear tonight, and with the starter he conjures, Mark is 14/18. But bridging awkwardly and cueing across the table, he leaves a cut in the jaws, and even worse, plenty of points for John to collect.
Higgins 3-3 Williams
It's hard enough to split these over 35 years never mind best of 11 frames.
Higgins 2-3 Williams (65-27)
Mark returns to the table needing one snooker and a poor shot from John allows Mark to lay it, behind the black with the red near the yellow pocket, after taking a red-black to decrease the deficit; John escapes well, then Mark cannons the blue, and John sinks the final red.
Higgins 2-3 Williams (50-19)
But after running out of position, this time Mark's redemptive long pot hits the jaws, and John is in with a chance to level the match.
Higgins 2-3 Williams (26-5)
John clips a magnificent long starter, straight then to right corner, and quickly works his way down to the black spot, picking at the corners of the cluster. But splitting the pack, he overcuts the pot! Oh my days! But he gets away with it, the white finishing close to black cush ... only for Mark to guide a red into the far middle! And with the cluster broken, this is a proper chance for four in a row and a two-frame lead!
Higgins 2-3 Williams
John leaves a straightforward red, and from 2-0 down, Mark is in front!
Higgins 2-2 Williams (31-69)
John eliminates all bar the last red with blacks, but when he can't find a decent snooker Mark does; he escapes well, and the game is afoot.
Higgins 2-2 Williams (16-69)
But with one snooker required, Mark misses a red to left middle, and John's not someone you can feel confident won't find one.
Higgins 2-2 Williams (0-62)
Ad immediately, it yields a tremendously difficult chance, a red clipped from a long way away and from centre to right corner ... he plays it beautifully, and it might just mean the frame.But he needs to play one more tough shot first, the brown slotted along the baulk line, but he doesn't catch it quite right so the next bal is a toughie ... and down it goes! That's the redemptive brilliance of the man, and he should tidy things up from here.
Higgins 2-2 Williams (0-34)
But ruffling the pack off a black dislodges nothing pottable, so he makes do with a handy lead and John stuck to the bottom cushion.
Higgins 2-2 Williams (0-16)
Mark doubles a red from between pink and black into the side, then begins his accumulation.
We go again...
Higgins 2-2 Williams
Mark misses the blue to right corner, but John's seen enough, and they go into the break all-square. That was a jazzer of a mini-sesh, it really was, and there's no reason not to expect more of the same after the interval. Lucky us!
Higgins 2-1 Williams (34-50)
He can't take the opportunity but is quickly handed another, and now prepares for the key pot, a red rolled along the bottom cushion; he jabs it down brilliantly, and with the rest of the table invitingly laid, this is going to be 2-2.
Higgins 2-1 Williams (34-35)
No he isn't! Mark sends a red long to the yellow pocket that looks a dead cert to drop, but it refuses! John zips it home, goes up and down the table to get perfectly onto the blue, and if the cannon into the pack works well, the frame will be at his mercy. It doesn't so it isn't, but he's still on one, a thin cut ... which he cuts too thinly! So Mark takes a starter then misses the blue! This is getting nervy now ... well, was. John gets in again with one of his beloved doubles ... takes hte blue and misses his next red middle-distance to right corner! So here goes Mark...
Higgins 2-1 Williams (22-15)
John clips one in from centre to right corner, off the far jaw, then tucks in behind the yellow and Mark misses with two different escapes, then by a fraction when trying the second one again. This one leaves a ball for John, but goodness me, he spurns a simple red to left corner for a 3-1 interval lead and with Mark cutting home a starter is now looking at 2-2!
Higgins 2-1 Williams (8-14)
Said quality safety allows Mark straight back in, just for a red that facilitates another quality safety. This time, though, John responds well, and looking for a thin contact, Mark doesn't catch his ball of choice at all so he's stuck back in to miss again. He leaves nothing when he hits, but, so the safety beginsagain
Higgins 2-1 Williams (0-13)
Mark seems to have lozzed his top-cushion break - I wonder if it's because he knows it's not what the crowd want to see. Anyhow, an error from John allows him a simple starter to right middle, the pack is quickly clattered, and he's away again. But forced to play a long red to right corner, he catches it too thin to get on a colour, so it's back to baulk with a quality safety.
Higgins 2-1 Williams
As with John's break in frame one, this is just absolute expertise, everything made to look organised. On 116, Mark goes in-off off the pink, but he'd've took it. I've not a clue who's going to win this.
Higgins 2-0 Williams (0-68)
This is lovely, controlled stuff from Mark and it's very nearly 2-1. It's ridiculous how good these two are, not just in terms of skill but in terms of strategy and temperament.
Higgins 2-0 Williams (0-39)
Yeah, Mark's had enough. Tight to the bottom cushion, he clips a gorgeous long starter to left corner and begins pecking at the loose balls before rattling into the pack off the black. Things don't work out that well so he gathers himself then slides a glorious red to right middle and to the crowd's delight. This is looking like a framewinning opportunity now!
Higgins 2-0 Williams
John overcooks the brown so has to send the blue long to left corner, but he sends it home off the jaw and a felicitous kiss off the pink makes it a formality. He's in control now.
Higgins 1-0 Williams (49-54)
Coming off the black, Mark doesn't get the angle he needs to disturb the green, so plays safe, leaving a long tempter to left corner; John gets close but it whistles around the jaws and into a nasty position, most of it blocked by the pink. This earns him a chance to pot the yellow, which he does, then he develops the green and a poor shot from Mark allows him to pot it. He needs to the pink, and the way the balls are, that looks very likely.
Higgins 1-0 Williams (44-39)
But not as severely as he expected! It's a much tougher pot, to the same corner but along the rail, and there are two reds kissing close to the side cushion with green and blue near the bottom, so plenty of work to do to for whoever ends up winning this frame. Mark, though, sets about his work in his usual methodical style getting into position to pot pink to middle and caressing a cannon at the same time; it works perfectly.
Higgins 1-0 Williams (8-16)
You've gotta love Mark J. He slams home a plant from close to the green pocket, sees another red follow it down, then takes the pink and he's away. But have a look! He misses a simple red to left corner - it's mad really, to have been playing the game as long as he has as well as he has, and still be dogged by the same lack of concentration that dogs every person in every job in the world. He shakes his head because he knows John will punish him for that.
Higgins 1-0 Williams
John doesn't bother with the black, contenting himself with a masterly 126. Decent start.
Higgins 0-0 Williams (77-0)
These two have only met twice at the Masters in 97 and 03 - Mark won both times - but he's going to go one behind here, because John has gone down the table while picking off reds, and now he's back about the black spot. The frame is secure, but he'll want a ton and he'll want to keep his opponent off the table, rather than have him come back to play himself in.
Higgins 0-0 Williams (38-0)
The players are grinning their faces off and rightly so; this is an occasion. And it's John away first clipping into the green pocket - he's away, a red floated into the tight middle taking him to 31 and securing prime position. The pack still needs addressing, but he's in good shape to secure the frame.
And off we go!
The Palace is absolutely buzzing
Ooh yeah!
The boys are ready to baize!
Evening all!
How do you even introduce these two total legends? This is going to be great.
Thanks for joining us
We will be back at 7pm with John Higgins and Mark Williams doing battle in the second quarter-final. Should be another riveting encounter. See you back here for more exclusive LIVE updates in our 2022 Masters snooker blog.
2022 Masters quarter-finals
Thu 13 Jan
- 13:00 - Neil Robertson 6-4 Ronnie O'Sullivan
- 19:00 - Mark Williams v John Higgins
Fri 14 Jan
- 13:00 - Judd Trump v Kyren Wilson
- 19:00 - Barry Hawkins v Mark Selby
Semi-final
Sat 15 Jan
- 13:00 - Neil Robertson v Mark Williams/John Higgins
- 19:00 - To be decided v To be decided
Final
Sun 16 Jan
- 13 + 19:00 - To be decided v To be decided
O'Sullivan 4-6 Robertson
"I don't think he played good, I didn't play good. Too many mistakes," said O'Sullivan, who bit off his tip at the end of the match. "Was just one of those games. I was trying to give the crowd a bit of game and Neil a bit of a game. Neil was the better player today. I don't make excuses. I like him, he is a good guy and hope he goes on and wins it."
O'Sullivan 4-6 Robertson
"I felt like I hit the ball fantastically well. Missed a couple of balls and so did Ronnie," said 2012 Masters winner Robertson, who faces John Higgins or Mark Williams in the semi-finals on Saturday afternoon. "That is to be expected. I think I put in a good performance. If you can't get up for this kind of event, you should hand your place to somebody else."
O'Sullivan 4-6 Robertson
Robertson running out the deserved winner. O'Sullivan missing too many balls at key moments.
O'Sullivan 4-5 Robertson (6-61)
Well, was on the cusp of victory, but he misses brown off spot. A lifeline for O'Sullivan trailing 54-0. Tough ask and he can't sink a mid-range red. Robertson picks out a red to a centre bag. That should finish off the business at hand.
O'Sullivan 4-5 Robertson (0-45)
Has got the black into play and plenty of reds are available for the Australian to get over the line.
O'Sullivan 4-5 Robertson (0-37)
This is suddenly a real chance for Robertson to win frame and match at this visit.
O'Sullivan 4-5 Robertson (0-9)
O'Sullivan can't sink a long red. Long game has not been there today. First chance falls to Robertson.
O'Sullivan 4-5 Robertson (0-0)
Winner of this match will face John Higgins or Mark Williams in the semi-finals.
O'Sullivan 4-4 Robertson (0-92)
Looking good here for Robertson to move one frame up with a possible two frames to play. O'Sullivan had a chance, but couldn't capitalise. Needs to win final two frames of the afternoon as Robertson tidies up the remaining balls.
O'Sullivan 4-4 Robertson (0-49)
Robertson picks out a fine recovery pot on a red to keep break going on 39. But he then throws in another odd miss on a red which O'Sullivan can't punish. Disappointing miss for him.
O'Sullivan 4-4 Robertson (0-14)
O'Sullivan attempts to pick out a long red, but is well off with that. Unfortunate to see the red career back up to baulk for Robertson to get first chance. Rocket not overly convinced by his tip at moment.
O'Sullivan 3-4 Robertson (76-32)
What an effort this is from O'Sullivan under pressure. Leads by 36 with 35 left on table. Brilliant break of 68 as he tries to level at 4-4. Robertson leaves the final red and this will be all square again. 4-4 coming up.
O'Sullivan 3-4 Robertson (25-32)
Mistake by Robertson in the safety shot. Bad blunder with that containing attempt. So what can O'Sullivan find in response this time?
O'Sullivan 3-4 Robertson (0-32)
Robertson misses a red with a rest holding a 32-point lead near the black spot, but nothing easy left for his opponent. O'Sullivan so close to finding a double in response. Bit of safety joust to settle pattern of this frame.
O'Sullivan 3-4 Robertson (0-0)
Robertson needs two more frames, O'Sullivan looking for three. All still wide open.
O'Sullivan 3-3 Robertson (5-130)
Great recovery pot on a pink from Robertson to keep the break going. Moves up to 72 in no time. Some lovely striking of the cue ball. Going to restore his lead here. And he finishes on 130. O'Sullivan left to regret missing a straight red.
O'Sullivan 3-3 Robertson (5-20)
Chance falls to O'Sullivan early in the seventh frame, but he misses a straight red. Bit of a disturbance in the crowd before he jawed that. Robertson left with a simple enough starter.
O'Sullivan 2-3 Robertson (102-37)
Robertson fails to sink a long red to the green pocket. And he has left the Rocket at the table. Cuts a glorious red into a pocket and he is right in business here. This is superb from the Essex icon. What a response this is. Back to 3-3. A magical 102 break. He is up to 80 centuries at the Masters.
O'Sullivan 2-3 Robertson (0-29)
O'Sullivan jaws a red from distance. Just narrowly failed to drop and chance is there for Robertson to get ahead early on. But the white ball races into the pack of reds. End of break.
O'Sullivan 2-2 Robertson (29-66)
O'Sullivan lays Robertson in a snooker from a long red before snookering his opponent behind the brown. Robertson catches a loose red too thick on the escape and suddenly there is a chance to recover ground here. But he misses a red to a centre pocket on 29. Wasn't easy. Robertson slots final reds to put the frame to bed. He leads again at 3-2.
O'Sullivan 2-2 Robertson (0-50)
A nice break of 50 from the Australian before he breaks down attempting to land on a red from the green ball. Break finished with a lead of 50 points.
O'Sullivan 2-2 Robertson (0-20)
Loose safety shot by O'Sullivan early in the fifth frame has presented Robertson with a fine chance to compile a few points here.
O'Sullivan 2-2 Robertson (0-0)
O'Sullivan 2-2 Robertson (0-0)
Lovely long red by the Rocket and it is all square in this match. An absorbing first four frames. Both men warming to the occasion.
O'Sullivan 1-2 Robertson (66-24)
Break moves to 66. O'Sullivan rolls in the red he needs to leave Robertson needing a snooker. 42 ahead with 35 left on table. Should be 2-2 coming up at mid-session interval. Two snookers needed.
O'Sullivan 1-2 Robertson (21-24)
Robertson floated in a lovely long red from the O'Sullivan break-off, but then missed a red to a middle pocket seconds later. Didn't expect that miss. Touch of early pressure. Chance then for Rocket to get himself moving in this frame.
O'Sullivan 0-2 Robertson (70-0)
Looks like O'Sullivan is going to close to 2-1 behind. 65 ahead with 59 points left up. And then a white ball drops from Robertson, who suddenly needs three snookers. Tall order you would suggest. Robertson has seen enough. First frame of the day to the Rocket.
O'Sullivan 0-2 Robertson (56-0)
Cracking long red by O'Sullivan into the heart of the yellow pocket. Majestic ball striking.
O'Sullivan 0-2 Robertson (51-0)
Break quickly develops to 46. Moving along nicely at this moment in time, but that will be that will loads of reds welded to the top cushion. Nice safety to finish before Robertson comes up with a delightful safety shot of his own.
O'Sullivan 0-2 Robertson (19-0)
Error by Robertson as a white ends up down a hole attempting to run safe. Chance for O'Sullivan to get his cue arm going and settle down.
O'Sullivan 0-2 Robertson (1-0)
Early bout of safety at the outset of the third frame. Both players trying to get in behind the brown, but Robertson has stuck a red over the hole. O'Sullivan slots red, but just another safety coming up without any position. The seven-times champion rolls up to the baulk cushion. Decent safety shot.
O'Sullivan 0-2 Robertson (0-0)
O'Sullivan needs another snooker in the second frame as break progresses to 56. A 2-0 lead for the 'Thunder from Down Under' as O'Sullivan concedes. O'Sullivan has not potted a ball in first two frames. Rocket has been in this movie a few times, but would like to get a frame on board before the mid-session interval.
O'Sullivan 0-1 Robertson (0-41)
Looks in fine touch Robertson. Happy to mop up the loose reds at the scoring end of the table.
O'Sullivan 0-1 Robertson (0-8)
O'Sullivan can't sink a red to a middle pocket. Robertson powers in the red and green, but unfortunate not to land on a red. Chance gone, but another one comes along seconds later as the Rocket can't make a difficult cut on a mid-range red.
O'Sullivan 0-0 Robertson (0-138)
A fabulous break of 119 from the Australian. Magnificent stuff.
O'Sullivan 0-0 Robertson (0-73)
The 2012 winner has made an assured start to the day. O'Sullivan yet to get going and Robertson powers home a long-range red. Has tidied up the table with some aplomb. Ideal start for the Australian. Showing the crowd he is as up for this as an Aussie cricketer in the Ashes.
O'Sullivan 0-0 Robertson (0-7)
O'Sullivan attempts to pick out a long red, but it rattles the jaws at pace before bouncing back out. Bit of tension in the arm. Easy opener then for Robertson. Crowd full of anticipation at the start of this meeting.
Rocket ready to rock and roll
His 6-1 win over Jack Lisowski in the first round was vintage O'Sullivan as he chases an eighth Masters title over a fourth decade.
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‘Stunning’ – O’Sullivan makes sensational long pot and plant
Good afternoon
Ronnie O'Sullivan faces Neil Robertson in a rapid repeat of last month's World Grand Prix final won 10-8 by the Rocket from 7-5 behind. A place in the last four is on the line with former Masters winners John Higgins and Mark Williams facing each other tonight from 7pm. Should be a fascinating day's play at the sport's most coveted invitational tournament.
Quarter-finals at Alexandra Palace
The quarter-finals of the Masters are ready to get underway in earnest at Alexandra Palace on Thursday. Kyren Wilson beat Stuart Bingham 6-5 in the last match of the first round on Wednesday to join Judd Trump, Mark Selby, Ronnie O'Sullivan, Barry Hawkins, John Higgins, Neil Robertson and Mark J Williams in the quarter-finals.
Neil Robertson will take on Ronnie O'Sullivan at 13:00 on Thursday before Mark Williams and John Higgins lock horns at 19:00. Friday will see Judd Trump face old foe Kyren Wilson in the early match before Barry Hawkins and Mark Selby bring the quarter-finals to a conclusion. Follow all Thursday’s action live here with comments beginning at 12:45.
Schedule and results
Masters (9-16 Jan 2022)
Round 1
Sun 9 Jan
- 13:00 - Yan Bingtao [1] 4-6 Mark J Williams [9]
- 19:00 - Neil Robertson [5] 6-3 Anthony McGill [16]
Mon 12 Jan
- 13:00 - John Higgins [8] 6-2 Zhao Xintong [10]
- 19:00 - Shaun Murphy [7] 2-6 Barry Hawkins [11]
Tue 11 Jan
- 13:00 - Ronnie O'Sullivan [4] 6-1 Jack Lisowski [14]
- 19:00 - Mark Selby [2] 6-3 Stephen Maguire [13]
Wed 12 Jan
- 13:00 - Judd Trump [3] 6-5 Mark Allen [12]
- 19:00 - Kyren Wilson [6] 6-5 Stuart Bingham [15]
Quarter-finals
Thu 13 Jan
- 13:00 - Neil Robertson v Ronnie O'Sullivan
- 19:00 - Mark Williams v John Higgins
Fri 14 Jan
- 13:00 - Judd Trump v Kyren Wilson
- 19:00 - Barry Hawkins v Mark Selby
Semi-final
Sat 15 Jan
- 13:00 - To be decided v To be decided
- 19:00 - To be decided v To be decided
Final
Sun 16 Jan
- 13 + 19:00 - To be decided v To be decided
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