Pang surprises Williams to advance to quarterfinals at UK Championship

Pang Junxu produced Wednesday's biggest headline in York, England, toppling three‑time world champion Mark Williams 6-3 in the round of 16 to clinch his first quarterfinal appearance at the UK Championship.

The 25‑year‑old Chinese potter set the tone early, compiling heavy visits and refusing to surrender a fourth‑frame advantage, with Williams on the verge of clawing back.

The Welshman rallied with a 112 to threaten a recovery, but Pang answered emphatically with the tournament's highest break, a 116, to close out the match and seal the upset.

Awaiting him in the last eight is an opponent who knows the York Barbican Centre quite well. Neil Robertson, the 2013, 2014 and 2020 title winner, overcame a slow start against China's Wu Yize, who took the opener with a 62.

The Australian then flipped the script, notching breaks of 51, 65, 75, 56 and 68 to grab six frames on the bounce, en route to closing out the contest 6-1.