Another chunky break - this time of 62 - seals the 12th frame in his favour. A reminder that Mark Williams was 5-1 down to John Higgins at one point in this match so he's done well to graft his way back into this contest.

What's going on here!?...

Image source, PA Media

This more like it. Mark Williams with a break of 51 - possibly the most fluent potting we've seen so far in this contest this evening - but has to burn a shot breaking the pack up so is unable to go on and take the frame.

Ken Doherty
1997 world champion on BBC Four

John Higgins hasn't potted a ball for 23 minutes. He's missed a couple of long ones. It's been a little bit fractured so far but it's been hard fought. Both players play really good safety but the scoring hasn't flowed. I'm sure it will get better.

John Higgins is unable to get the snooker he needed and Mark Williams tots up another seven points and the former concedes the frame. Just one frame separates these two legends of snooker.

Image source, Getty Images

Finally, a bit of ambition shown and it's Mark Williams who holds a 46-point lead over John Higgins at 59-13 with 43 left on the table Snookers required for the Scot.

That's a very important frame for Zhao Xintong after blowing chances to win the first two this evening.

The 2021 UK Championship winner is now 7-4 ahead in this race to 13.

It hasn't exactly been thrilling stuff, I agree. Bit a slow burner, this one. The pack has been broken up but the black is effectively out of action as it's sandwiched by a couple of reds.

BillyNic1882: The absolute state of the game that is snooker. So inaccessible that these two are allowed to stay at the top end of the rankings for so long is a farce. Just look at this boring plodding snooker.

More attrition at the Crucible as tactical safety leads the way for both John Higgins and Mark Williams. The latter fouls with one such safety shot and the cue ball rolls into the corner pocket after clipping the pack.

Moments later Higgins himself drops the white into a pocket as well.

Steve Sutcliffe
BBC Sport at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield

A draw is just taking place for the Media World Championship which is effectively a one-frame shoot out on the table next to the studio set up in Sheffield's Winter Garden.

The big draw for those who spend most of their time behind microphones, cameras or laptops is that former Masters champion, Alan McManus, is in the hat!

Image source, Getty Images

Paul: Doesn’t Mark Williams have problems with his sight now? He’s a legend of snooker but the fact he’s still at the top of the game with such problems doesn’t say much for those beneath him in rankings does it? He’s still better than loads of them even with that.

Ken Doherty
1997 world champion on BBC Four

John Higgins just stopped that little bit of momentum from Mark Williams. He did it with a nice break as well.

John Higgins misses the final red but with Mark Williams needing a couple of snookers the Welshman concedes the frame.

Dennis Taylor
1985 world champion on BBC iPlayer

How can you have a pot like that and miss those easy ones? Incredible game. It never ceases to amaze me. There is a lot of tension out there.

Zhao Xintong looks to have bounced back from that missed blue as he smashes in a stunning long red.

But he again squanders chances to seal the frame.

The Chinese player should be 8-2 ahead. It's 6-4.

John Higgins is able to pick off reds and milk the pink as he looks to take control of this frame. He has a break of 50 with two reds left on the table.

Kevin Astley: It's the quarter-final of John Higgins v Mark Williams. They both turned professional in 1992 and they're still at the peak of their game in 2025. Incredible.

Image source, Getty Images

Nip and tuck in the 10th frame so far. Neither player able to string together a meaningful break with the black stranded on the cushion, although John Higgins looks the more threatening.

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