Mark Williams produced one of the great recoveries of the English Open, coming back from 5-1 down to beat Shaun Murphy 6-5 and book his place in Sunday’s final against Ali Carter.
It was a win built on nerve rather than momentum. Williams, the world number nine and a three-time world champion, won five straight frames to turn the semi-final around after Murphy had looked set to control it.
Williams finds his way through the pressure
The key to the match was simple enough in the end: Williams kept going while Murphy could not finish the job. After Murphy had edged through his quarter-final against Judd Trump in a final-frame battle, he again looked positioned to close out another tight contest, only for Williams to seize control at the crucial point.
That kind of comeback is rarely accidental. From 5-1 down, Williams had no room for drift, and the fact he took the next five frames tells you how well he handled the pressure as the match tightened.
Carter stands between Williams and the title
Williams will now face Ali Carter in the final at the Brentwood Centre in Essex on Sunday. It is a notable pairing because neither player had previously reached the English Open final since the tournament began in 2016.
For Carter, there is extra significance. He started the week ranked 25th in the world and can return to the elite top 16 if he wins the final. He has been open about what that would mean, saying: “To get in the top 16 at my ripe old age of 47 wouldn't be too bad.”
Carter also made clear he is relishing the occasion. “There is a lot to play for tomorrow, but I'm going to be in there fighting,” he said, adding that he remains competitive with the best in the world and that it is “a feather in my cap.”
That gives Sunday’s final a clear edge. Williams has already shown he can turn a match around from a seemingly lost position. Carter, meanwhile, has the ranking incentive and the chance to complete a week that could take him back into the top 16. It is exactly the sort of final that should suit the English Open: a straight contest with real consequence.
