Williams wizardry leaves rivals bewitched
The provisional world number one gained the most comprehensive victory of the first round with his 10-2 success over Lancastrian Stuart Pettman.
Williams has now won 46 successive opening matches in ranking events a record he feels will never be beaten.
The provisional world number one said: "If someone had told me I would go five years without losing my opening game, I wouldn't have believed them. It makes a change to have a record Stephen Hendry doesn't hold," he said.
"It would be great if I could get it up to 50," added Williams, who faces a Crucible rematch against Quinten Hann for a place in the quarter-finals.
Williams, holder of the UK and Masters titles, resumed the evening with a 7-2 lead and Sheffield newcomer Pettman's ordeal was over in half an hour.
Williams recovered from 47-0 down in frame 10 with a 78 clearance and went on to add runs of 75 and 58 to reach the second round.
Deprived of a bitter showdown with arch-rival Ronnie O'Sullivan, his game with Australian Hann on Sunday afternoon could be the next best thing.
There was bad blood between the pair in 1998 when Williams, who had been 9-4 in front, prevailed 10-9 on the last black.
Williams criticised Hann's supporters for their rowdy behaviour and admitted: "There is a bit of friction between us.
"But I don't worry about that stuff anymore. Whoever beats me, good luck to them. Besides, I don't play the person I play the balls."
Hendry potted his way into the World Championship record books yet again as he began the second round of the tournament against fellow Scot Drew Henry.
Hendry's break of 115 in frame six was his 100th century at The Crucible since making his debut against Willie Thorne in 1986.
It also enabled him to draw level at 3-3 with Henry, who shocked the seven-times champion by opening up with the first three frames.
Hendry's ton of tons is a superb achievement as John Higgins, his nearest rival, lags behind on 63.
Yet 34-year-old Hendry wasn't exactly in good humour as he left the arena. For the second match running he failed to produce his best snooker.
The world number six, attempting to win his first world crown since 1999, struggledagainst Henry, a player he had beaten on their previous two meetings.
