Ding defeats Selby to reach semis
Ding Junhui defeated Mark Selby 13-10 to reach the semi-finals of the World Championship for the first time.
Leading 10-6 from the previous session, Ding managed to stay in front and held his nerve in the final frame to sink a pressure pink and black.
Signs of a consecutive semi-final appearance at the Crucible for Selby looked good as he kept Ding off the table with solid scoring to level at 10-10, including breaks of 55, 86 and 92.
Given the momentum was strongly in his favour, the Jester from Leicester was to rue a break for the mid-session interval that disrupted his flow as the pendulum swung the other way.
Ding potted his first balls in over 70 minutes when play continued and scraped his first frame of the evening on the black with a fine cut.
High breaks were at a premium after that as the pressure built but it was Ding who kept his composure to take the final two frames that either player could have won.
He faces Judd Trump next.
Second session report
Ding Junhui leads Mark Selby 10-6 after the penultimate session of their World Championship quarter-final at the Crucible.
The Chinese 24-year-old started at a blistering pace, romping to a 121 break in the opening frame of the session and opening up a 6-3 lead in the match.
With Selby struggling for fluency early on, Ding raced to 50-0 in the next frame, before a narrowly-missed black to the bottom-left corner refused to drop.
The pair exchanged visits, before Selby eventually secured the frame with a clearance up to pink.
Ding immediately extended his lead back to three frames with a dazzling 87 break, but Selby responded to take the final frame before the mid-session interval after a tense, cagey 45-minute frame.
Ding returned from the interval with a bang - moving 77-0 clear with some delicate potting with 75 points left on the table.
Selby gamely refused to concede the frame - battling with a brilliant snooker - but the 'Jester from Leicester' missed a tricky black to the bottom-right corner pocket after potting the final red, and Ding punished him by knocking in the yellow to finally secure the frame and an 8-5 lead.
Another lengthy, edgy frame followed, but a lovely long yellow to the top-left corner finished it for Selby, who once again refused to let Ding out of sight in the quarter-final.
A much-needed break of 76 earned Ding a 9-6 lead with one more frame to play in the session, before the Chinese player edged another marathon frame to forge a four-frame lead heading into the final session.
Play resumes at 7pm on Wednesday.
First session report
Selby started the session in blistering fashion - keeping Ding rooted to his seat with a break of 124 in the opening frame.
The 'Jester from Leicester' made history with his 54th century break of the season, overtaking Stephen Hendry as the sole record-holder for the most centuries ever in a season.
Ding's fans had every right to feel nervous after Selby's phenomenal start, but it proved to be a false dawn as a host of uncharacteristic errors ensured Ding plenty of time at the table in the next frame.
The Chinese 24-year-old got his first frame on the board with a 55 clearance, and didn't look back as he followed a sloppy missed pink by Selby in the third frame with a break of 53 to go 2-1 up.
A break of 65 in the fourth earned Ding his third consecutive frame before the mid-interval break, and the Masters champion made it four in a row and 4-1 without a significant break after Selby missed an awkward red to the bottom-right corner.
A quite brilliant 87 clearance from Selby reduced Ding's lead to two frames, only for the Chinese potter to make sure of an overnight lead by taking the next frame with a break of 77.
With Ding in control of the quarter-final at 5-2, it was vital for Selby to respond in the final frame of session to reduce the arrears ahead of tomorrow's second session, and the 2008 Welsh Open champion produced the goods after the cagiest frame of the match.
After a protracted exchange of safeties - during which Selby spent the majority of the time firmly on the back foot - the world number three finally re-found his top gear to secure the frame with a sensational break of 74.
Comment 17 - 36 of 36
Selby played great against Hendry, possibly one of the finest standards I have witnessed, but, to be fair, he did have an awful lof of 'running'. I aren't saying he had loads of flukes, but the balls were definitely working for him, not that they were particular working against Hendry. The downside of this was that he had the complete opposite against Ding, and thats snooker, make the most while its there, cos it certainly wont last forever.
As someone who grew up watching Stephen Hendry, and who is a huge fan of the guy, I really dont get the outrage.
He didnt play on with no hope and drag his opponent out of his rhythm, Peter Ebdon style. Rather, the balls were well placed and it was the final frame of the session, and a chance to kill off the match. He got the snookers, therefore it was a justified decision. And guess what guys and girls, Stephen didnt think it was disrespectful. He was furious, Im sure, but at himself.
And the most disrespectful thing anyone could ever do to Stephen Hendry is start giving him frames, as if he's no threat at all. Pity frames. He'd be disgusted at that thought! Mark was right to treat him as a dangerous foe because even now Hendry has the potential to string a few big breaks together in no time. At 11-8 he'd have been right back in it...
Selby wasn't too gracious in defeat as he usually is, did you guys notice how fast he shook Ding's hand and also the audience didn't give Ding the due credit? Weak.
From Velizar, on Thu 28 Apr 11:53AM
Yes dear friend,i am pretty sure ALL saw that...unfortunatelly Selby ,although he is a very talent player ,is maybe the only one i dislike as person...at least HE gave me the right to think so from his behaviour.
Seeing Ding win really made my day. I agree with someone else here who was outraged by Selby for that frame he won from 4 snookers behind against Hendry. The match was virtually won and anyway, it was going in the 3rd session for sure. Hendry was not playing all that bad really, he was just giving Selby too many clear cut chances. It was so sad seeing Hendry tortured during that frame, because it's not like Selby's snookers were all that amazing, it was just too easy to lay them the way the colours were spread on the table.
Anyway Ding played amazing for certain stretches in that match and his last 2 pots were top class. As for Selby, i would be surprised if he ever wins the world title, he's had plenty of good runs last few years, he just comes short in money time and looks like a constant underachiever. A bit like Jimmy White really, only that Jimmy has actually tons more talent than Selby who is all skills from practice.
Selby wasn't too gracious in defeat as he usually is, did you guys notice how fast he shook Ding's hand and also the audience didn't give Ding the due credit? Weak.
Seeing Ding win really made my day. I agree with someone else here who was outraged by Selby for that frame he won from 4 snookers behind against Hendry. The match was virtually won and anyway, it was going in the 3rd session for sure. Hendry was not playing all that bad really, he was just giving Selby too many clear cut chances. It was so sad seeing Hendry tortured during that frame, because it's not like Selby's snookers were all that amazing, it was just too easy to lay them the way the colours were spread on the table.
Anyway Ding played amazing for certain stretches in that match and his last 2 pots were top class. As for Selby, i would be surprised if he ever wins the world title, he's had plenty of good runs last few years, he just comes short in money time and looks like a constant underachiever. A bit like Jimmy White really, only that Jimmy has actually tons more talent than Selby who is all skills from practice.
Selby wasn't too gracious in defeat as he usually is, did you guys notice how fast he shook Ding's hand and also the audience didn't give Ding the due credit? Weak.
Superb performance from Ding after 10-10...showed some real guts out there....best wishes to a great and VERY GENTLE snooker player.
I agree with dfgdf that Selby is just a sorry hyena. Playing for 4 snookers after he has practically won the match?! This is total disrespect for a legend like Steven. And this regrateful display of spite was his bid for greatness? That all the commentators and Selby fans praised so much. HA! Take that from the dragon you wannabe but never gonna-be champion!
A hyena may eat the old lion alive but it will never become a lion itself!
Selby just brilliant at everything except he fail to keep up against Ding in terms of stamina and concentration in long play. His last miss at the end of the match was totally avoidable if his mind was fresh.
Calm down Chinese fella (your name is super-long). I'm not mean to him. he's a superb player and I would love to see him win it but I do not see him going much further. I just feel Trump is playong a bit too well. I got it wrong with Selby. Hendry could'nt put the pressure on him that Ding could. Ding was well worth the win. Trump has hardly missed one easy ball all week.
One thing I have to mention to your guys who know less about Chinese sport media is, China has the most crazy sport media environment. Even Ding is one of the best snooker players in the world, he still can not convince a lot of Chinese. If he win a match, the medias will blow he to the sky. while if he loss a match, the medias will say he is nothing, stupid and lucky win several tournament before. So for those who don't know, Ding actually has a strong pressure from media. That's why he doesn't have any emotional performance while playing.
Dizzy, You are so mean to Ding. Technical, I think Selby, Ding, Ronnie, and John are on the same level. We can hardly say whose skill is better. So the only thing to judge a snooker player is whether he have a heart of champion. Look at Ding's performance, He saved the match by winning 4 frames in row against Bingham which is impossible for other players whose heart is not strong enough. And in the third section against Selby, Selby should gave him a lot of pressure when he catch up with Ding to 10-10. If you have ever played snooker or pool in a match, it's very dangerous. At least I can not stand still if that happen to me. So Ding really has a strong heart to win the champion.
I don't get it. How the f uck is trying to get snookers to win a frame considered disrespectful? As it turned out, he was right because he got the snookers and won the frame. The way he played that frame against Hendry, he could have needed 10 snookers and got them. Should he give up the frame? I've seen players come back from 11-5 but 12-4 is not really possible. He did right. It's not Karma, Ding was just the better player.
God make it right. You humiliate someone, you'll get it back. RESPECT...that's all.
Well done VO. I made a prediction and I got it wrong - big deal! Ding is a great player but I've never been convinced by him at the world championships. Fair play to him, he showed some character to win the match. Who would you have backed when Selby got back to 10-10 with four in a row? I'll make another prediction. He won't go any further. Unless Trump, completely loses his nerve, he can win this tournament. He has played the best so far. Only the former World champion gave him a game. He destroyed Dott and Gould. There will be a little more pressure now though because he will go into this match as favourite in most people's eyes.
Selby was not the same one I saw in previous matches. He tried hard, but Ding kept his cool. Judging by last night's performance, Ding should be the logical winner. Selby will have his day though. He has great potential to be a super player.
Wing
I like Ding JunHui! He seem like a hard working pro, who keeps his head down and does his talking on the table! Whoever wins the Trump-Ding semi will be the champ!
After Selby's display in the previous round, this victory for ding is music to my ears!
Payback time for disrespecting a legend in the game.
hahahah take that selby hyena, it is your payback for humiliating a Legend of Snooker, why didn't you come back to table? Oh yeah, you lost, now you can go home and practice, and maybe you think twice before coming back at the table for 4 snookers when you re 11-4 ahead.... hahahahha I hope the win against Hendry is your last one.
Yesss! I thought Ding was in serious trouble when Selby got it back to 10 all, but he kept his head and made a couple of incredible pots. Bring on the semi finals...Ding is going all the way!
Dizzy you are Selby's biats after all?
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