LONDON // Despite suffering whiplash injuries to his neck in a minor car crash the previous day, Mark Williams showed courage to complete a 6-3 victory over England's Ali Carter and reach the quarter-finals of the Pokerstars.com Masters at Wembley Arena.
Williams took the opening frame with a quality break of 98.
Carter, who reached the quarter-finals last year before losing to the eventual champion, Ronnie O'Sullivan, bounced back to take the next two, but from there on the Welshman, who won the Masters in 1998 and 2003, dominated winning five of the remaining six frames.
It represented a return to form for the 34-year-old and a first quarter-final appearance at Wembley since 2006. He now faces Shaun Murphy tonight.
"I surprised myself, I didn't expect that and felt good out there. I couldn't rush any shots because of the pain. That was probably some of the best stuff I have played for sometime," said Williams.
"I'll try to get a massage before facing Shaun and hopefully the neck should feel a lot better. The pain was bearable, but it got worse when the tension started to build."
The defending champion Ronnie O'Sullivan came out on top against Neil Robertson, winning 6-4 in an outstanding contest which featured four centuries and five more breaks over 50.
The Australian Robertson looked in control when he took the first three frames, but O'Sullivan stormed back to win six of the next seven to boost his chances of a fifth Wembley title.
"I'd give my long potting just two out of 10 so it's hard to get excited," said O'Sullivan. "To make two or three centuries in a match is not a big deal as that's how the modern game is. I'm not the player I was when I was 15 or 16.
"A lot of the time I'm playing sub-standard shots. Now and then I catch hold of one and play a killer shot. The only time I play a pure shot is left handed. The last time I played a good tournament was the [2003] European Open in Torquay and the Irish Masters a couple of weeks later.
"I don't want to have to rely on the occasion of being 3-0 down in front of a big crowd to salvage some pride and give myself a kick up the backside. I can't pot a ball in practice. My attitude will be the same in my next match [against Peter Ebdon] I won't be surprised if I win or lose."
@Email:sports@thenational.ae
Tips for newlyweds to better manage finances
All couples are unique and have to create a financial blueprint that is most suitable for their relationship, says Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial. He offers his top five tips for couples to better manage their finances.
Discuss your assets and debts: When married, it’s important to understand each other’s personal financial situation. It’s necessary to know upfront what each party brings to the table, as debts and assets affect spending habits and joint loan qualifications. Discussing all aspects of their finances as a couple prevents anyone from being blindsided later.
Decide on the financial/saving goals: Spouses should independently list their top goals and share their lists with one another to shape a joint plan. Writing down clear goals will help them determine how much to save each month, how much to put aside for short-term goals, and how they will reach their long-term financial goals.
Set a budget: A budget can keep the couple be mindful of their income and expenses. With a monthly budget, couples will know exactly how much they can spend in a category each month, how much they have to work with and what spending areas need to be evaluated.
Decide who manages what: When it comes to handling finances, it’s a good idea to decide who manages what. For example, one person might take on the day-to-day bills, while the other tackles long-term investments and retirement plans.
Money date nights: Talking about money should be a healthy, ongoing conversation and couples should not wait for something to go wrong. They should set time aside every month to talk about future financial decisions and see the progress they’ve made together towards accomplishing their goals.
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
Small Victories: The True Story of Faith No More by Adrian Harte
Jawbone Press
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Election pledges on migration
CDU: "Now is the time to control the German borders and enforce strict border rejections"
SPD: "Border closures and blanket rejections at internal borders contradict the spirit of a common area of freedom"
Bareilly Ki Barfi
Directed by: Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari
Starring: Kriti Sanon, Ayushmann Khurrana, Rajkummar Rao
Three and a half stars
War
Director: Siddharth Anand
Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Tiger Shroff, Ashutosh Rana, Vaani Kapoor
Rating: Two out of five stars
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5