Snooker:John Higgins survived a potting onslaught by Mark Williams to keep within two frames of the Welshman in an absorbing World Championship semi-final at the Crucible.
Williams hit a purple patch during the second session, in which he made two centuries in three frames, and at one stage he led Higgins by four frames.
However the Scot hit back by taking the last two of the session to cut Williams' lead to 9-7, and they contest two sessions tomorrow to determine who goes forward to the final.
Beginning with a 5-3 advantage, Williams did not have a large break in the opening frame but took it without Higgins potting a ball.
Roles were reversed in the next when Higgins made an 84 break to take the frame 106-0.
Then Williams struck on his hot streak, beginning with a break of 115 which ended in frustration for him.
The 36-year-old had his eye on the highest break prize of €11,000 but missed the green.
Mark King, who had a 138 in his first-round loss to Graeme Dott, is currently on track to pick up that bonus, but he must have been squirming at home when Williams looked set to make 140.
The Welshman clearly expected to clear up the colours and swished his cue, Zorro-style, above the table when the green stayed up.
There was another chance to set the top break of the tournament in the next frame for Williams but after eight reds, seven blacks and a blue the break came to an end.
Higgins had a reprieve, runs of 42 and 17 brought him close, and he fired in a long blue to edge ahead before sinking a clinching pink.
Williams responded by rattling in 103, and then pinched a low-scoring 14th frame to go 9-5 ahead.
It was essential that Higgins at least split the final two frames with the in-form cueman from Cwm, but the 35-year-old did better than that, taking them both, aided by runs of 40 and 42.
They resume tomorrow morning and play to a finish in the evening.