Barry Hawkins scuppered Ding Junhui’s big chance of reaching a first World Championship final as he ended China’s hopes of Crucible glory yesterday.

Hawkins turned a 9-7 overnight lead into a 13-7 victory to reach his first semi-final in Sheffield, with former Masters and UK Champion-ship winner Ding going down tamely in the morning session.

The path to the final looked to have opened up in Ding’s favour, with the likes of Neil Robertson, Stephen Maguire and Mark Allen having been ousted from his side of the draw, while Hawkins knocked out world no.1 Mark Selby.

But any sense that Hawkins’s victory against Selby may have been a one-off was dispelled emphatically yesterday.

With millions of Ding supporters watching at home in China, their man gave a flat display.

Hawkins, who plays Ricky Walden next, said: “I was a bit calmer than I expected, especially in the last frame. I felt pretty good.

“I was pleased to get over the line. I can’t believe I’ve reached the semi-finals... it hasn’t sunk in yet at all.”

Trump through

In the afternoon session, Judd Trump set up a semi-final showdown that Crucible audiences have been longing for after stopping Shaun Murphy in a real battle of nerves.

With Ronnie O’Sullivan finishing off Stuart Bingham 13-4 in the evening, Trump earned his shot at ‘The Rocket’ by winning a thriller 13-12.

Trump promised on Tues-day, when trailing 8-4 at the evening mid-session interval, that he would tear his shirt off and throw it into the crowd if he fought back and came through.

He might not have kept to that pledge, but the comeback was memorable enough, with Trump battling Murphy through a 53-minute final frame.

Trump and O’Sullivan will go head to head at the Crucible for the first time today.

Other QF result
Walden bt White 13-6.