Williams takes lead against McCulloch

Two-time Embassy world champion Mark Williams snatched a slender 5-3 advantage over Preston’s Ian McCulloch with a cool display of potting in their entertaining second-round clash at The Crucible.

The Welshman, winner of the world crown in 2000 and 2003, compiled two century breaks – 133 and 102 respectively – to give the Lancashire left-hander plenty to think about.