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World Snooker: Ding Junhui through to the semi-finals (Includes interview and first-hand account)

So commanding was Ding Junhui’s performance that he beat his Welsh opponent with a session to spare. Locked at 2-2 in the early stages, the Chines player went storming into a 10-2 lead, before Williams pulled a frame back. Undeterred, Ding won the next three to reach the semi-finals for only the second time in his career (he last reached this stage in 2011.)

Ding played very well and made twelve breaks over 50. This included a break of 109 in the ninth frame and a run of 95, where the Chinese player was tantalizingly close to making his second century in the eleventh frame. In fact, Ding scored at least a half-century in every frame he won.

As well as Ding played, Williams often contributed to his misfortune through missed pots. Williams did not compile many big breaks during the match, with a run of 70 in the fourth frame being his highest contribution. Williams made only one further break over 50, in the eighth frame. Here he broke down in play and let Ding in for a frame winning clearance of 74. When Williams won his two world titles in 2000 and 2003 he was one of the fastest players on the circuit and a prodigious long potter.

While Williams was out of sorts, he did have to replace the tip on his cue, which is something that takes time to ‘play in.’ Whether a more practiced tip would have led to a better performance from Williams is uncertain, given Ding’s fine display.

Each of the other matches are in-progress. In one match, John Higgins holds a 5-3 advantage over Alan McManus in an all Scottish encounter. Higgins, who has won four previous world snooker championships, won the last two frames of the session without his opponent scoring, clinching the seventh frame 96-0, thanks to a break of 75, and winning the eighth game 73-0. Up to this point, McManus had played well, compiling a break of 114 in the second frame. A close contest is expected when the match resumes.

Another former champion is also ahead. Mark Selby holds a 10-6 advantage over Kyren Wilson. Wilson has been the surprise package of the tournament so far, although his chance of making the semi-finals looks remote. The match has not seen a high number of big breaks, although Selby has made a century, compiling a break of 101 in the fourth frame. He came close to second, compiling 99 in the sixth.

The final game in progress sees Marco Fu well placed over Ronnie O’Sullivan’s conqueror Barry Hawkins, standing 7-1 ahead overnight. Fu has made six breaks over 50, including breaks of 81, 76 and 73. It would take something very special from Hawkins to pull things back.

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Dr. Tim Sandle is Digital Journal's Editor-at-Large for science news. Tim specializes in science, technology, environmental, business, and health journalism. He is additionally a practising microbiologist; and an author. He is also interested in history, politics and current affairs.

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