In-form Mark Williams can take another step towards tasty Shanghai prize

Eurosport 2 from 7am Thursday

World champion Mark Williams is in fine nick and is worth taking to advance to the semi-finals of the lucrative Shanghai Masters at the expense of Barry Hawkins.

Williams staged an amazing series of comebacks to win the World Open a month ago, fighting back from 9-5 down to beat David Gilbert 10-9 in the final.

And he looked in solid form in his first start in Shanghai. Williams, entering the competition at the last-16 stage, beat Anthony McGill 6-3, knocking in five 50-plus breaks including a century.

Hawkins gave the Welshman a battle in the Betfred World Championship semi-finals, which Williams won 17-15.

He also impressed in a 6-3 defeat of Stephen Maguire in the last round in Shanghai that featured four breaks of at least 90.

But wily Williams has an impressive head-to-head record against the Hawk and should be able to dig deeper if it develops into a battle.

Defending Shanghai champion Ding Junhui fought back from 3-1 down to beat Mark Allen 6-3 in the last round and the recent Six Red World Championship finalist looks value to see off Mark Selby.

Selby won the Haining Open last month but admitted he was not at his best and he had to rally from 5-3 behind to get past Zhou Yuelong in the last round.

Recommendations
M Williams
2pts 4-6 BoyleSports
Ding Junhui
1pt 10-9 188Bet

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