GRAND PRIX
Venue: Kelvin Hall, Glasgow Date: Saturday 3 October-Sunday 11 October Coverage: BBC Two, BBC Red Button, BBC Sport website

Williams has won the Grand Prix twice, in 1996 and 2000

Mark Williams advanced to the last eight of the Grand Prix with a 5-2 victory over Stephen Hendry.

The battle of the ex-world champions was dour early on with Williams taking a 3-1 lead despite a top break of 30.

Hendry's best in the first four frames was only 13 but after the mid-session break he managed 32 in the fifth before Williams stole it with a run of 47.

Hendry hit back with a 51 to cut the deficit to two frames but a 55 helped Williams to a battling victory.

There were several uncharacteristic errors from both players throughout the match, but it made for an interesting contest.

The sixth frame fluctuated several times, with Williams looking on course to seal the match having moved 57 points ahead, only to cut badly across a straightforward red into the corner.

Hendry responded with a determined 51 before breaking down with a difficult green along the baulk cushion.

The seven-time world champion, who last lifted the world crown in 1999, delighted the home crowd with a clearance from the brown, including a magnificent angled blue into the yellow pocket.

Williams was not to be denied, however, and in the next frame a superb diagonal red rolled into the top corner pocket helped him to his match-winning break.

Elsewhere in the last 16, former world champion Peter Ebdon beat Mark Davis 5-3.

China's Ding Junhui was in superb form as he dismantled home favourite Stephen Maguire 5-1. And outsider Robert Milkins also eased into the last eight, as he beat Mark King 5-1.

The quarter-final draw has paired world champion John Higgins with Mark Allen and Joe Perry against Australian Neil Robertson. Williams will play Milkins and Ebdon takes on Ding.

Friday 1330 BST
Higgins v Allen
Perry v Robertson
Friday 1900 BST
Williams v Milkins
Ebdon v Ding

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