World number one Mark Selby secured a place in the semi-finals of the World Championship with a 13-8 victory over qualifier Kyren Wilson, who recorded the tournament’s highest break of 143, yesterday.

Ding Junhui also produced a ruthless display at the Crucible to send Mark Williams packing and earn an unscheduled day off before his semi-final.

Selby, the 2014 champion, had resumed yesterday’s morning session with a commanding 10-6 overnight lead.

Selby looked on course for a swift conclusion after clearances of 92 and 78 left him on the brink of the last four.

However, Wilson, who defeated Joe Perry and Mark Allen en route to the quarter-finals, recovered to reduce the deficit before taking the final frame ahead of the mid-session interval with a superb century break to better the 141 of Barry Hawkins in round one.

It was, though, only a matter of time before Leicestershire potter Selby sealed victory, which he delivered at the first opportunity following the restart with a 64 clearance.

Selby, who has failed to win a ranking event this season, will next take on Marco Fu in the semi-final.

Wilson, 24, hopes his 143 will be enough to land him the highest-break prize.

“I hope not (it won’t be beaten) because my cue might be in pieces if it is,” he said.

“It was a nice break but at 12-6 down I’m sort of out of the match so it’s a nice little consolation prize and hopefully it will stand.”

China’s Ding won 13-3 with a session to spare against two-time champion Williams, keeping himself on course to become the first qualifier to win the tournament since Shaun Murphy in 2005.

He had a top break of 109 in frame nine, adding 95 in the 11th and several more in the 70s as 12 of his 13 frames were won with runs of over 50.

“I played really well,” Ding told World Snooker.

“From the first session I was winning 6-2 and I kept going and played well again.

“Mark didn’t have much luck, some bad kicks, so I got some easy shots and made breaks. I’ll enjoy the day off, rest and get ready for the next one.”

Other QFs: McManus bt Higgins 13-11; Fu bt Hawkins 13-11.