Stephen Hendry apologises for Mark Williams analysis during World Championship

jokingly apologised for lacking insight during his analysis of ' display in a . The seven-time world champion eulogised about his former rival at the Crucible.

After falling 5-3 behind in the first session against , Williams bounced back to level at 8-8. The Welshman then led 13-11 at the end of the third session to put himself in with an excellent chance of winning the semi-final and meeting Zhao Xintong in the final. He then won the first frame of Saturday's final session, prompting Hendry to praise his display.

The BBC pundit said: "He has just carried on from this morning. It sounds a very simple thing to say about someone who has done what he has done, but he is just a brilliant potter, it's as simple as that.

"The long red he potted to secure the frame after he missed frame ball before, which was an easier one he took for granted.

"He is just a brilliant potter. It's not the best analysis in the world or most exciting analysis in the world, I do apologise, but that's it. Mark Williams is just a brilliant potter."

Williams' potting against World No. 1 Trump has been made even more remarkable given that he had been playing "half-blind" before arriving at the Crucible. The 50-year-old has been wearing contact lenses after his eyesight took a turn for the worse.

At the Players Championship in March, Williams revealed that he could no longer see the balls clearly, describing them as a blur. He was concerned that the lights of the Crucible would interfere with his new lenses, but stunning victories over John Higgins, Hossein Vafaei and Yize Wu have put the World No. 6 on the brink of the final.

Williams, a three-time world champion, has held off having eye surgery over being put off by former World No. 10 Anthony Hamilton.

"I have been reading up and talking to people who have had it done and I've got to be honest, it is putting me off a bit.

"I've got a big decision to make. A couple of people I have spoken to, especially Anthony Hamilton at length, have said it is no good under the lights and it has ruined his career. It has sort of put me under pressure. After this is finished, it is something I am going to have to look more into."