World No.39 Joe Swail could not block the path of defending champion Ding Junhui in the quarter-finals of the World Snooker China Open in Beijing on Friday.

 

The 19-year-old Ding whitewashed Swail 5-0 to meet Mark Williams in the semifinal of the tournament.

 

Williams trounced Stephen Hendry 5-1 early in another quarter-final on Friday.

 

Ding had only one 115 break during the game but it was enough for him to book a berth in the top four.

 

The first three frames were more like an amateurs game as both players continued to commit mistakes, but Ding set to clear to take the lead 3-0 during the close frames as he constructed a pair of 32-point-breaks in the third.

 

Ding back on track in the fourth as he took the frame with a 115 break and the won fifth frame with 21 and 32.

 

"I was not stable today, but I was good at the long-distance shooting." said Ding, "I didn't expect I could had a good performance in the long-distance."

 

Ding will face Williams in the semifinal on Saturday, but he refused to predict the game.

 

"I don't know what it will be, but I won over him many times before and I think he certainly hope to win the game," said Ding.

 

Early on Friday, Williams roared into a 3-1 lead and grasped the semifinal place with an easy 5-1 victory.

 

"I am in good conditions tonight, but Hendry not," said Williams, "I lost to him last time we met. It is always great to beat a player who ranked in the top 16 in the world."

 

"To face Ding in China is an interesting thing. The crowd were great to me these days but I think there will not be many people hope me win tomorrow," Williams added.

 

(Xinhua News Agency March 25, 2006)