Angry ex-champ Williams into last-eight

Trump also through in snooker championship.

SHEFFIELD:

Former winner Mark Williams breezed into the last-eight of the world championships and then blasted the decision to scrap the prize for a maximum 147 break at the Crucible.

Welshman Williams enjoyed a 13-4 demolition of England’s Jamie Cope, becoming the first man to reach the last-eight. He made two century breaks but not at any stage did he think about going for the feat of 15 reds and blacks, followed by the six colours, snooker’s ultimate individual feat.

The Welshman made a maximum in Sheffield six years ago, in a match against Robert Milkins, and in recent seasons there has been a £147,000 prize on offer for the feat, which has only been achieved nine times in the history of the tournament. But that was scrapped this year in a cost-saving move, to the astonishment of former champion Williams who fears audiences may suffer from missing out on a magical moment.

“I think it’s terrible that there’s not a 147 prize in this tournament,” said Williams. “Even if it was £20,000 for a maximum break, it’s got to be something for this tournament. It’s just a shame because apart from Ronnie O’Sullivan who still seems to be going for it as if it is £147,000, a lot of other players aren’t even going to attempt it.”

Trump powers through

Judd Trump secured his passage to the quarter finals with a 13-6 win over Martin Gould.

The Englishman, winner of this month’s China Open who knocked out defending champion Neil Robertson of Australia in the opening round, led Gould 11-5 overnight, and duly picked up the two frames he required to book his last eight place.



Published in The Express Tribune, April 24^th, 2011.