Williams Stages Stunning Five-Frame Comeback to Set Up Carter Final at English Open
Williams Turns 1-5 Deficit Into 6-5 Victory Over Murphy
Mark Williams will contest his first English Open final on Sunday after producing one of the more remarkable comebacks of the 2024–25 season, overturning a 1-5 deficit against Shaun Murphy to claim a 6-5 victory in the second semi-final at the Brentwood Centre in Essex. The three-time world champion will face Ali Carter, who earlier dismantled Ding Junhui 6-2 in the day's opening match. Neither player has previously reached the final of this event, which has been part of the Home Nations Series calendar since its inaugural edition in 2016.
Murphy's Lead Evaporates in Familiar Fashion
Murphy had arrived at the semi-final stage in strong form, having beaten world number two Judd Trump in a deciding frame in the quarter-finals. That capacity to win tight matches appeared to be bearing fruit again on Saturday when he raced into a 5-1 advantage, placing him just one frame from the final. What followed, however, was a wholesale collapse. Williams, ranked seventh in the world, reeled off five consecutive frames to deny his opponent — a reversal that will sting Murphy given the manner in which it unfolded.
The pivotal moment arrived in the tenth frame. Murphy had constructed a break of 51 and appeared to be steering himself towards a closing position, only to surrender an opportunity that Williams — ranked ninth in the world at 51 years of age — gratefully accepted. The Welshman responded with a contribution of 65 to level the match at 5-5, setting up a deciding frame that he won with a break of 69. It was a clinical finish from a player whose longevity at the highest level continues to confound expectations. According to data tracked via CueTracker, Williams has now won multiple matches from losing positions this season, underscoring a resilience that has characterised his career across three decades on tour.
Carter Eyes Return to the Top 16
The first semi-final was a far more straightforward affair, though no less significant in terms of its implications. Carter, who began the week ranked 25th on the world rankings, defeated Ding Junhui 6-2 to secure his place in Sunday's final. The 47-year-old from Essex won five frames in succession after falling to an early deficit, with his highest break of the match — 119 — illustrating the kind of quality that once made him a fixture inside the top eight.
The ranking consequences of a victory over Williams on Sunday would be considerable. A first English Open title would lift Carter back into the elite top 16, a threshold that carries significant practical benefits including seedings at ranking events and automatic qualification for the World Championship at the Crucible. Carter was candid about the incentive involved when speaking to reporters after his win.
"To get in the top 16 at my ripe old age of 47 wouldn't be too bad. There is a lot to play for tomorrow, but I'm going to be in there fighting. I'm still competing with the best players in the world and it is a feather in my cap."
Final Preview: First-Time Champions Guaranteed
Sunday's final is notable for what it will definitively produce: a first-time English Open champion. The event, which has been held annually since 2016 with the exception of pandemic-disrupted seasons, has never previously been won by either Williams or Carter. Past champions include Ronnie O'Sullivan, Neil Robertson, and Judd Trump, all of whom have claimed the title at least once (snooker.org). Neither finalist, then, arrives with the burden of defending a previous crown — though both carry considerable pedigree from elsewhere on the circuit.
Williams, a three-time World Championship winner whose most recent Crucible triumph came in 2018, has demonstrated throughout this week that his level of match play remains formidable despite his age. Carter, a two-time World Championship runner-up (2008 and 2012), has shown he retains the consistency to compete with the tour's best when his long potting and safety game are in tandem.
Statistical Snapshot
The table below summarises the key semi-final data from Saturday's matches at the Brentwood Centre.
| Match | Winner | Score | Highest Break (W) | Frames Won Consecutively |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carter v Ding Junhui | Ali Carter | 6-2 | 119 | 5 |
| Williams v Murphy | Mark Williams | 6-5 | 69 (decider) | 5 |
The English Open final takes place on Sunday at the Brentwood Centre. Coverage details are available via the BBC Sport website and the WST's official broadcast partners.
