Ronnie O'Sullivan looks to go one step closer to defending his Premier League title as he faces Welshman Mark Williams in the opening Semi-Final tonight.

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The Rocket has dominated this event in previous years, winning it a staggering nine times. He is 6/4 favourite to make it 10 this evening, but must prevail from a top quality field of four.

He takes on former world champion Mark Williams in the opening game of the night. O'Sullivan showed his class during the 10 weeks of league competition, topping the table with 18 points.

Williams however secured his place by clinching the four frames he needed in week nine to finish in fourth position.

The pair have been in contrasting form on the tour this season. Williams has shone in the major ranking events, reaching two finals, whereas O'Sullivan has dominated the PTC tour.

Both are renowned as two of the game's best attacking players and are likely to produce a highly entertaining game this evening.

They have met countless times in major competition, but Welsh Potting Machine Williams will be out for revenge after he was thumped 5-0 by Ronnie in the 2005 Premier League final.

The bookmakers make Ronnie the favourite, partly due to his superb record in this event; he is priced at 4/7 to defeat Williams, who is the 11/8 underdog with Bet365.

The winner will face either Ding Junhui or Judd Trump in the final on Sunday evening.

The match begins at 7.45pm from the Potters Leisure Resort, Hopton on Sea, Norfolk and will be streamed live over the best of nine frames, with the 20 second shot clock in operation.