By Arandeep Singh Dhillon
Perry earned a semi-final clash with Ding Junhui and will have the chance to reach the second ranking final of his career and first since the 2001 European Open. Chatteris cueman Perry is enjoying the best season of his life having won the Yixing Open and reached the semis of the International Championship - where he agonisingly lost 9-8 to Marco Fu.
World number two Selby took a 35-0 lead in the first frame but failed to close it out, allowing Perry to steal it. Leicester's Selby had a chance to level in the next but missed a tricky red to baulk pocket, allowing Perry to clinch it for 2-0. Perry then stepped up a gear with breaks of 54 and 78 to surge into a 4-0 lead.
Selby threatened a trademark fight back when he made a 78 in frame five and led 37-0 in the next. But Perry made a 56 break and eventually won it on the colours after Selby went in-off playing safe on the brown.
"I am absolutely delighted," said 39-year-old Perry. "Mark is a proven winner and has won the big tournaments, he's a fantastic player. It is always a scalp to beat someone ranked so highly. I got off to a shaky start - the table threw me at the beginning, it is the first time I have played on the actual TV table and it's so much faster than all of the others. It took me a while to settle but once I did, I was hitting the ball well and I was happy.
"This has been my best ever season but I don't know why. I am a lot more casual about things these days and I'm really enjoying myself. I have got a great bunch of lads that I hang around with - the other pros. I am enjoying myself on and off the table and I think it is coming out in my game now."
As for his meeting with Ding, Perry added: "I played one of my best matches of the season and totally outplayed him at the Wuxi Classic and beat him 5-1, but he got me back at the German Masters. I will have to be at my best, probably better than tonight. Mark let me settle tonight but Ding probably won't let me do that with the wins under his belt, so I am going to have to play great."
Hawkins produced his best performance of the tournament against Fu to set up a showdown with Ronnie O'Sullivan - a repeat of last year's Crucible final which the Rocket won 18-12.
World number five Hawkins set the tone early on, making a sublime 125 clearance in the opening frame. The Ditton potter won a scrappy second before a run of 58 in the next made it 3-0. Another terrific clearance, this time 134, followed by a break of 61 in the final frame secured victory over Hong Kong's Fu.
"I am over the moon with that result," said Hawkins. "I knew I would have to play well against Marco because he played well against Mark Williams. I started off really well, had a century in the first frame and another total clearance later. I had a little bit of luck along the way but I felt like I was playing well.
"It doesn't get any easier playing Ronnie. I am looking forward to it, it will be a great occasion tomorrow night with a big crowd. It is always special when you play Ronnie and hopefully I can get one over on him. I need to cut out a few mistakes that I made in the world final and if I can do that then I might have a chance. I need to keep him under pressure and take every chance I get."
