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Chinese snooker Ding rallies past Un-Noon, facing Murphy in World GP

Xinhua, March 12, 2016 Adjust font size:

Chinese snooker Ding Junhui came from 3-1 down to beat Thailand's Thepchaiya Un-Nooh 4-3, becoming the first man into the semifinals of the Ladbrokes World Grand Prix in Llandudno, North Wales on Friday.

Ding, world No. 12, will meet next English player Shaun Murphy, who crushed China's Liang Wenbo 4-0. As the 2005 world champion, Murphy lost just one frame in three matches, taking just 53 matches to record his win.

English player Joe Perry reached his second ranking event semifinal in Wales within a month as he beat another English player Ali Carter 4-1.

Perry got to the last four of the Welsh Open three weeks ago and he's now through to the same stage in Llandudno.

In a high quality match, Un-Nooh won the opening frame with a break of 97, then Ding levelled with a 92 before Un-Nooh went on to make an 84 and 74 to lead 3-1.

Ding made 51 in frame five then Un-Nooh had a chance to clear for victory but missed a red on 34.

Ding then capitalized to pull one back before making a 65 in the next for 3-3.

Then Ding finished in style with a superb 108 in the decider, which included a clever planted red early in the break when he seemed to have run out of position.

"It was very tough today," said Ding. "I managed to stay in a good frame of mind even when I was 3-1 down.

"Thepchaiya played even better than he does in practice and he was winning frames in one visit. He played with a good rhythm and with confidence.

"Tomorrow will be best of 11 frames and I need to take my chances as quickly as possible to get some momentum. Whoever I play against, I just have to play my own game."

In Perry's matchup with Carter, they shared the first two frames before the world No. 10 took the third with a break of 87 and made a 66 in the fourth.

Carter clawed his way back and got the snooker he needed on the yellow, but Perry eventually potted the green to go 3-1 up. And he compiled runs of 37 and 33 in the next to seal the result.

What has pleased me most this week is that my mannerisms and tempo have been good," said Perry. "I have kept in control of myself and when you do that you always have a chance. I'm striking the ball well and I felt comfortable today. This is a good spell of the season for me, I have put in a lot of hard work on the practice table and I'm getting results."

Perry will face reigning world champion Stuart Bingham, who defeated Wales' Ryan Day 4-2. Endit