GWENT snooker star Mark Williams has booked his place in the last eight of the Australian Goldfields Open in Bendigo where he will face compatriot Dominic Dale.

Cwm’s world number one is in the quarter-finals after a comfortable win over David Gilbert.

Williams, who posted what he called an “awful, appalling” 5-2 win over Barry Pinches on Wednesday, triumphed by the same scoreline against Englishman Gilbert yesterday but was much happier with his overall performance.

“It was a lot better today and I knew if I played like I did yesterday then I was going to get beaten,” he said, after enjoying breaks of 78 and 83 in a strong potting display.

Home favourite and 2010 world champion Neil Robertson crashed out of the tournament yesterday after a tense clash with Wales’ Dale.

A battle lasting close to four hours was decided on the final black. Dale led 3-1 before Robertson cut the gap with a 111, his second century of the match. The Australian was looking much the more fluent player and knocked in breaks of 59 and 54 to set up a decider.

He was first in with 48 but the 54-minute frame swung to and fro before Dale potted the final pink and black to win by a single point.

And Mark Allen and Stuart Bingham showed no inclination to bury the hatchet following their UK Championship feud after they set up a renewal of hostilities.

Northern Ireland’s Allen made it into the last eight with a one-sided 5-1 win over Scotland’s Marcus Campbell, with breaks of 101, 71, 100, 63 and 67.

And, though he took the time to commiserate with Campbell over “the worst run of luck I’ve seen someone have against me,” he was not in such sporting mood as he looked ahead to his next match.

“There’s a bit of history between us. We don’t get on,” Allen said of Bingham.

“He said about getting revenge on Ding (Junhui) for his Crucible defeat but it would be nice to send him back where he belongs. He doesn’t like me because I told the truth in a press conference that he has no bottle – and as he threw away a match at the World Championships after leading 12-9 I think that showed it.

“It was great he did because that let the legend that is Stephen Hendry stay in the top 16 and I would rather see Hendry in the top 16 than Bingham.”

Bingham, who eased past Tom Ford 5-0 with two 94 breaks and two further half-centuries, was also happy to stoke the fire.

“I can’t wait to play this match,’’ admitted Bingham.

“He said a few words after the UK Championship which were a bit out of order and I’ve been waiting for this match for a while.

“He said I’ve got no bottle and he thought he was never going to lose to me. I will definitely be up for it.”