Snooker: Mark Williams is happy just to scramble win

Mark Williams admitted he dragged opponent Matthew Stevens down to his level to claim a 6-4 victory and reach the quarter-finals of the Betfair Masters.

Williams was completely out of sorts as he trailed 4-1 and saw Stevens on the verge of winning the sixth frame as well. But Stevens missed a simple brown to go 5-1 in front and from then on committed numerous basic errors as Williams took five frames in a row.

“I didn’t play very well at 
all, neither did Matthew,” said Williams. “Even though I wasn’t playing too well I was still trying 100 per cent, and perhaps that’s got what me through in the end. Perhaps I dragged him down a bit and pounced on him.”

Former world championship finalist Stevens looked in complete command of the low-quality match when he led 4-1 and made a break of 59 in the sixth frame.

Williams made 37 to get back into the frame before missing a straight yellow but Stevens then missed an equally easy frame-ball brown to let his fellow Welshman off the hook.

The left-hander improved from then on and runs of 59 and 68 helped him into a 5-4 lead, while he sealed victory with breaks of 48 and 44 after Stevens had missed a black off its spot.