Ding stops Selby to make semis at snooker worlds
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?Ding Junhui of China plays during his quarter-final match against Mark Selby of England in 2011's World Snooker Championship in Sheffield, Britain, April 27, 2011. Ding won 13:10 to enter the semi-finals. (Xinhua/Xiu Kun) |
Chinese sensation Ding Junhui held back Mark Selby of England 13-10 to improve his personal best at the Snooker World Championships to semifinals on Wednesday.
Ding took advantage of Selby's awkward mistakes to lead 10-6 after the first two sessions, but saw the world No. 3 coming back aggressively in the last session by winning four frames in a row.
However, the 24-year-old Ding didn't let his chance go when Selby missed a key ball after 10-10, taking victory in the quarterfinal as a debutant at this stage at the World Championships.
"I feel very strong now. I don't give up. I just keep going even if there is only one chance," said Ding, who clinched the title at the Masters this January and is regarded as one of the favorite to win at the Crucible Theatre.
Ding will play England's rising star Judd Trump in the semifinals as the 21-year-old breezily past former world champion Graeme Dott 13-5.
The newly crowned China Open champion met no threat after thrashing the 2006 world champion Dott 11-4 in the first two sessions on Tuesday and need only 21 minutes to see off the 33-year-old Scot on Wednesday.
Mark Williams defeated Mark Allen 13-5 to grab a semifinal berth, setting up a meeting with world No. 1 John Higgins, who beat Ronnie O'Sullivan 13-10.
