China

Ding on way to repeat 2005 glory

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-04-03 11:10

BEIJING - Chinese snooker star Ding Junhui thumped veteran Peter Ebdon 5-2 on Friday to set up a clash with Mark Allen in his first China Open semifinal in four years.

The victory breaks Ding's "Beijing Curse" as he never advanced into the tournament's last eight after the 2006 semifinal and also sends him well on track to a second title in Beijing, where he won his first ranking event in 2005 at the age of 18.

"I played OK today," said the 24-year-old, "I've made progress over these years. In 2005, I didn't expect too much as a wild card and played too attacking. Fortunately I won. But now I've learned a better balance between attack and defence."

Allen, 24, came from 4-2 down to knock out seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry 5-4, joining Mark Williams of Wales and England's Allister Carter in the last four.

While the Northern Irish reaches his first ranking semi-final since the world championship 11 months ago, he will hope to add his first ranking title in Beijing on Sunday.

The first four frames were shared and the 41-year-old Hendry seemed in control when he added the next two. Refusing to give up, Allen pinched the 7th with a break of 63 before levelling the scores at 4-4. Hendry squandered two early chances and Allen capitalized from his latter miss with a 77.

"At 4-2 down I still believed I could win, and I held myself together well to win the last three frames," said Allen, who gained revenge on the Scot for their last meeting at the Crucible in 2008.

Home favourite Ding clinched the first two frames thanks to clearances of 93 and 121 before charging into a 4-0 lead. Ebdon, 39, delayed Ding's victory by clinching the next two. But the Chinese youngster held nerves to win at the 7th, which both players agreed to restart as red balls clustered too closely.

"Peter played slow. I know he's very cautious. But I clinched the first two frames each with one visit and built an early edge, which made it hard for him to come back." Ding said.

Carter and Williams both had easy 5-1 wins as Carter beat Mark King of England and the Welsh cruised past Marco Fu from Chinese Hong Kong.