Mark Williams thrashed Zhang Anda 5-1 to reach yet another ranking semi-final at the Wuhan Open.
The legendary Welshman celebrated his 50th birthday back in March and tomorrow he will compete in the last four of a ranking event for the 68th time.
Such is the longevity of three-time World Champion Williams, that victory this weekend would see him become the first player to win a tour event in his teens, 20s, 30s, 40s and 50s.
Williams ended last season by reaching his fifth Crucible final back in May. He faced Zhao Xintong in the title match, who denied Williams a fourth crown to become Asia’s first ever World Champion.
The 26-time ranking event winner has carried his form into this season and scored a fine victory against Mark Selby in the previous round to earn his place in today’s quarter-finals.
A break of 74 gave Williams the opener, before former International Champion Zhang restored parity.
From that point Williams assumed total control of proceedings, crafting runs of 83 and 60 en route to four on the bounce and a place in the semi-finals.
“I didn’t realise it was that many. 68 semi-finals? That is unbelievable, what can I say about that,” said a thrilled world number five Williams.
“I’ve got to pinch myself sometimes with what I’m doing. The peak of my powers was between 24 and 31. I’m 20 years past that and I’m still getting to semi-finals of tournaments. It is incredible when you sit back and think of it.
“If you had said to me five years ago I would still be in semi-finals and competing I wouldn’t have believed you but here we still are. I’m still giving the top players in the world a run for their money. How long it will go on for, I don’t know. I just have to enjoy it.”
Next up Williams faces defending champion Xiao Guodong, who ended the fairytale run of English 18-year-old Stan Moody by prevailing 5-2.
Xiao lifted his maiden ranking title here in Wuhan 12 months ago by beating Si Jiahui in the title match. Soon after he made the final of the invitational Champion of Champions, where he was beaten by tomorrow’s opponent Williams.
Moody beat the likes of Ding Junhui and Barry Hawkins to reach the quarter-finals of a ranking tournament for the first time, but Xiao proved to be a bridge too far today. Breaks of 94, 87 and 100 saw local hero Xiao make the semis for a second consecutive year.
