Barry Hawkins takes charge of World Snooker Championship semi-final against Mark Williams

Hawkins moved 9-7 clear overnight

Hawkins moved 9-7 clear overnight (Getty Images)

Barry Hawkins showed the kind of defiance that could land him Crucible glory on Monday as he wrestled back control against Mark Williams in their Betfred World Championship semi-final.

Two-time former winner Williams produced some sparkling snooker before the mid-session interval to reel in Hawkins from 5-3 and draw level at six frames each, and it seemed all the momentum was with the veteran Welshman.

But Hawkins returned from his dressing room rejuvenated and once more took a grip, moving 9-7 clear overnight in the best-of-33 clash of the two left-handers.

Hawkins, 39, has won more matches than any other player at the World Championship across the past five events and this year's edition. Mark Selby has landed three titles in that time but Hawkins has reached semi-finals five times out of six.

Only once, in 2013, did he extend such a run to reach the final, and Ronnie O'Sullivan had his measure that time.

The Kent man began this tournament under the radar but there is nobody ignoring his claims on the title now.

O'Sullivan was back in Sheffield on Friday, six days after being knocked out in the second round by Ali Carter, but the five-time champion's role was as a television pundit. His appearance in the arena before Hawkins and Williams arrived to resume their battle was a mere sideshow.

Williams failed to qualify for the World Championship last year and toyed with retirement, but picking up his cue again has proved lucrative, with the 43-year-old's earnings already above £500,000 for the season.

With Hawkins twitching and frowning from his seat, Williams scythed into his opponent's overnight lead.

(Getty (Getty)

A smooth opening 80 break set the early tone, and after they shared the next two frames Williams struck again.

Both men were briefly distracted - Hawkins by an official's walkie-talkie blurting out a message as he played and missed a red, and Williams by untimely encouragement from a spectator before he failed to sink a brown.

After giving Hawkins a playful nudge when their paths crossed, seemingly in a nod to the barge controversy involving O'Sullivan and Carter last Saturday, Williams produced a stunning pot on a crucial red.

In trouble by the baulk cushion, Williams had to apply heavy swerve on the white to sink a ball 12 feet away, and it effectively won him the frame.

The interval was no help to the Welshman though. The early fluency was gone, and when Hawkins doubled in the pink to make it three frames in a row it was a brutal blow.

Williams hit back with a precious 62 to ensure he would still be in the running on Saturday, when they play to a finish over morning and evening sessions.

Four-time champion John Higgins armed himself with a 9-7 lead over Kyren Wilson after a scrappy second session of their semi-final.

From 5-3 ahead overnight, Higgins was nowhere near his best in the morning action but did enough to defy first-time Crucible semi-finalist Wilson.

Wilson might have picked off more frames against the struggling Scot on another day but kept himself at least in contention heading into their Friday evening session.

PA