Williams anger after kick in the teeth
A final frame kick cost Mark Williams a place in the UK Championship semi-finals – as Ali Carter moved a step closer his first ranking tournament success.
A final frame kick cost Mark Williams a place in the UK Championship semi-finals – as Ali Carter moved a step closer his first ranking tournament success.
A gripping quarter-final at the Telford International Centre went right to the wire with twice-former winner Williams looking well placed to reach his first semi-final since March 2006.
But a kick as he attempted a red to the middle pocket in last night's decider proved very costly, with World Championship runner-up Carter taking advantage with a fine break of 91 to seal frame and match.
Welshman Williams, who has enjoyed a welcome revival in form in recent months, was clearly frustrated by that untimely kick – and was also far from impressed with the state of the table.
"It's hard enough to play snooker as it is, but when you play on a table and cushions as bad as that, it's frightening," said the popular left-hander.
"It's like playing tennis on tarmac – that's how bad it is.
"It's not because I lost – I'm a good loser and all the best to Ali. But the cushions and the table are a joke."
Those sentiments were echoed by Carter, who now has a rest day before his semi-final with Marco Fu tomorrow.
"The cushions were bouncing all over the place," he said. "It was hard to get your confidence when you are playing around the cushions and playing safe.
"I couldn't get on the baulk rail at all. It was tough out there, but sometimes you have to accept it and get on with it."
Both players made centuries in the afternoon session but, after racing into a 3-0 lead, it was Williams who retained control to lead 5-3 at the interval.
Carter then levelled at 6-6, only for Williams to take the lead once again.
The turning point, however, came in frame 14 when Williams led 51-6, only for Carter to make an excellent clearance of 50 to snatch the frame on the back.
Carter then took the lead for the first time in the match at 8-7 and, despite Williams forcing a decider, it was the man from Essex who progressed.
"I feel confident in my game," added Carter.
"There are a lot of good players left. I will just keep plugging away and knocking on the door and hopefully one day it will open for me."
By JAMES GARRISON
Order of play
Today's quarter-finals (1.30pm & 7pm) – Stephen Lee v Shaun Murphy, John Higgins v Stephen Maguire.
Tomorrow's first semi-final (1.30pm) – Ali Carter v Marco Fu.
Quarter-final scores
Marco Fu (HK) beat Joe Perry (Eng) 9-7 – 111-5 (67), 78-1 (55), 0-83, 16-64, 65-18, 48-77, 94-9 (94), 1-89 (59), 97-23 (62), 105-28 (70), 0-98 (98), 72-17 (55), 102-24 (85), 44-84 (84), 1-70 (53), 81-0 (54).
Allister Carter (Eng) beat Mark Williams (Wales) 9-8 – 0-97 (56), 0-136 (136), 50-74, 115-24 (91), 132-0 (132), 11-74, 27-104 (87), 70-40 (58), 83-31 (83), 35-70, 74-0 (74), 69-35 (68), 0-66, 57-51 (50), 64-29, 0-79 (79), 91-29 (91).
