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Stuart Bingham sets up Shaun Murphy semi-final, Mark Allen to face John Higgins

Bingham sets up Murphy semi-final, Allen to face Higgins

Kevin Coulson

03/11/2016 at 20:57

Stuart Bingham overcame a resolute Michael Holt 6-5 to set up a semi-final against Shaun Murphy at the China Open.

Holt took the first frame but runs of 56, 52 and 66 gave the 2015 world champion a 3-1 advantage but Holt rallied with breaks of 72, 90 and 51 to re-take the lead.

However, Bingham, 40, won three of the last four frames on offer to progress and set up a semi against Shaun Murphy.

His opponent in Friday’s semi-final, Murphy, never looked in trouble against Marco Fu.

Murphy raced into a 5-0 lead with some impressive snooker - including breaks of 129 and 101 - but Fu briefly threatened when he won consecutive frames.

However, Murphy won the eighth to secure his place in the next round.

Mark Allen beat world champion Mark Selby in a final-frame thriller to also reach the semi-final stage.

Mark SelbyEurosport

The 30-year-old raced into a 5-2 lead, only to be pegged back by the world No 1, who took the match to a deciding frame with a century break.

The final frame was a scrappy affair with neither player able to seize the momentum.

However, the Northern Irishman regained his composure to clinch victory after potting the blue and leaving Selby needing snookers.

He will face John Higgins in the last four.