Former champion Mark Williams looks in the mood for another World Snooker Championship triumph after he raced to a 7-1 lead over Jamie Cope in the second round here on Thursday.
Williams won the opening four frames in just 43 minutes and the Welshman continued to dominate for the rest of the session as he chases a place in the quarter-finals.
The 36-year-old’s potting exhibition was briefly interrupted when Cope pulled a frame back.
However, Williams, who won the world title in 2000 and 2003, responded by reeling off a further three frames in a row inside 32 minutes to close in on a convincing victory.
There are three scheduled sessions in the best-of-25-frame match, but Williams could conceivably seal his victory when they were to play eight frames yesterday and give himself some welcome rest.
Earlier on Thursday, Mark Selby sealed a 10-1 first-round win over Jimmy Robertson.
Robertson, making his Crucible debut, took the opening frame of the match but then offered little resistance as Selby cruised through to a match against Stephen Hendry in the last 16.
“I didn’t perform brilliantly but unfortunately for Jimmy, I think the occasion seemed to get the better of him,” Selby said. “He started off brilliantly in the first frame, but after that he seemed to fade away.”
“It’s unfortunate for him because it’s everybody’s dream to play at the Crucible and he didn’t really show what he was capable of, but I’m sure he’ll be back,” Selby added.
As for facing seven-time former champion Hendry, Selby said: “It’s a tough draw. It’s like Stephen’s second home, the Crucible.”
However, Selby beat Hendry 13-5 in the second round last year, so the Scot does not intimidate the 27-year-old.
“I played to a good standard last year so if I up my game I’ve got a good chance,” Selby said.
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