Four-time world champion John Higgins took advantage of some mistakes from Mark Williams to lead 5-3 after the first session of their World Championship quarter-final.
This tie features two of the sport’s all-time greats and two thirds of snooker’s legendary ‘Class of 92’ trio, which also includes Ronnie O’Sullivan.
Williams, 50, became the oldest man to reach the last eight at the Crucible since Steve Davis did so at the age of 52 in 2010, while Higgins turns 50 on 18 May, 13 days after this tournament’s final.
Both men received a fantastic standing ovation when introduced to the crowd, with the spectators then treated to some high-quality snooker.
A break of 69 took Higgins ahead, but Williams should have levelled, only for the Scot to snatch the frame on the black following a run of 65.
An effort of 72 gave the Welshman his first frame, only for him to miss a brown in the fourth frame, and that proved costly as Higgins took the first of three frames in a row.
Being 5-1 ahead, Higgins would have hoped to stretch his lead, but Williams responded well with breaks of 104 and 59.
The best-of-25 match resumes at 19:00 BST and will be played to a finish on Wednesday from at 10:00 BST.
