SHEFFIELD (England), May 5: Mark Williams established an 11-5 lead over Ken Doherty at the half-way stage of the world championship snooker final on Sunday.

Williams, the new world number one, was 7-1 up at the end of the opening session. Doherty’s solitary success in the session came in the third frame when he knocked in a 76 break to win 97-0.

When play resumed, Doherty won the first frame of the evening with a 47 break after Williams missed a black while using the rest.

Williams compiled a 118 break in the following frame to regain an eight-frame lead. He also won the next frame and then made it 10-2 with another century.

Doherty pulled two frames back, edging the 14th by a single point. Williams claimed the penultimate frame scoring 75 points without reply. But Doherty cleared to the pink in the final frame to win 60-51.

Williams needs seven more frames to land his second world title and collect a cheque for £270,000 ($433,400). Play in the best of 35 frames match resumes on Monday.—Reuters