Ding's worlds dream ended by Hawkins

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Ding Junhui (L) of China competes during his quarterfinal match with Barry Hawkins of England at the World Snooker Championship 2018 at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, Britain on May 2, 2018. (Xinhua/Craig Brough)

Barry Hawkins reached the semi-finals of the Betfred World Championship for the fifth time since 2013 by beating Ding Junhui 13-5.


World number six Hawkins fired two centuries and eight more breaks over 50 in an emphatic win over third seed Ding. London's 39-year-old Hawkins now meets Mark Williams or Ali Carter over 33 frames on Thursday, Friday and Saturday for a place in the final.


Crucible specialist Hawkins has now won 18 matches at the famous venue since 2013; no other player has won as many matches over the same period, including three-time champion Mark Selby. That's a remarkable turnaround for a player who lost in the first round in his first five appearances  at the Crucible from 2006 to 2010.


With a tremendous all round game and steady temperament, three-time ranking event winner Hawkins has all the attributes to go one step further than he did in 2013 when he lost to Ronnie O'Sullivan in the final.


Meanwhile, John Higgins and Judd Trump look set for a blockbuster conclusion to their quarter-final battle as they finished the second session tied at 8-8. They resume at 7pm with first to 13 frames to go through to the semis.


Trump led 5-3 overnight and took the first frame this morning with a break of 89.  In the next he made a brilliant 64 clearance to force a respotted black, and potted it after Higgins had missed a good chance to a baulk corner.


Trailing 7-3, Higgins needed to draw on memories of the 2011 final when he came from 12-9 down to beat Trump 18-15, and he did just that, winning five frames in a row. Breaks of 65, 61, 53 and 56 got Higgins back to 7-6, then he won a dramatic 14th frame by fluking the final green and adding brown, blue and pink.


Four-time Crucible king Higgins took the lead for the first time in the match by winning frame 15 with a break of 51. And he had chances in the last of the session, but Trump eventually took it to leave them all square.


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