Williams makes a fast start at Crucible

MARK Williams sent an emphatic statement to the rest of the field at the Betfred World Snooker Championship with a dominant opening session against Jimmy Robertson.

The Welshman led 7-2 overnight, leaving him just three frames short of a place in the second round.

Williams is a two-time champion having lifted the trophy in 2000 and 2003, but he has not been considered a major contender for some time.

However, with two ranking event titles to his name this season the Ebbw Vale potter looks ready for a serious assault on a third title at the Crucible.

He started like a train against Robertson – who is attempting to reach the second round for the first time in four attempts.

A 63 break got Williams going in the first frame before he edged a tight second with a superb clearance under pressure, finishing with a soft black in the bottom corner.

Robertson got on the board with a 51 break, while Williams’ concentration lapsed due to an issue with his tip.

But with danger averted, he cracked in back-toback breaks of 105 and 84 to stretch his lead to 4-1.

He needed two bites at the cherry to take the sixth before a fluke on the green handed him the seventh.

The duo split the final two frames ahead of today’s second session.

Fellow Welshman Ryan Day gets his campaign up and running today when he tackles Scotland’s Anthony McGill.

■ Watch the snooker World Championship LIVE on Eurosport and Eurosport Player with Colin Murray and analysis from Ronnie O’Sullivan, Jimmy White and Neal Foulds.