Dott on verge of final berth

Graeme Dott, who was on the verge of quitting the game in January, is within two frames of reaching his first Embassy World Championship final.

Dott was so frustrated with his form that he smashed his cue when he stopped at a motorway service station on the way home from the Welsh Open.

But now he is closing in on a Crucible meeting with Ronnie O’Sullivan after moving 15-13 ahead of Matthew Stevens in the best of 33 frame semi-final.

Victory would also ensure Dott holds onto his place in the top 16 for next season.

For the first time in the match Dott was made favourite at the start of the final session by bookmakers.

Stevens was first to strike with a 111 clearance – his eighth century of the tournament – after Dott had broken down on 22 when missing a red with the rest.

But Dott has shown throughout this tournament he is made of stern stuff and he responded by taking the next two frames.

A run of 27 to the final green enabled him to collect frame 26 and he held his nerve in the next after Stephens had led 53-0.

The Welshman then missed a yellow and in the process fouled by knocking a red down the pocket – and in stepped Dott with a superb 55 clearance.

That put him three frames ahead but Stevens kept his hopes alive by knocking in a 76 before the interval.

Whoever triumphs will face an awesome task to overcome O’Sullivan who demolished seven-time champion Stephen Hendry 17-4 to reach his second world final.

His victory moved O’Sullivan back to the top of the world rankings for next season in place of Mark Williams.

It was also his first win at Sheffield in four attempts over Hendry, who suffered his heaviest-ever defeat in the tournament and lost a match with a session to spare for the first time in his career.

O’Sullivan led 13-3 overnight and was clearly in the mood to finish off his opponent in double quick time.

He won the first frame in just eight minutes with a run of 71 only for Hendry to retaliate with a decisive 75.

O’Sullivan edged closer to the finishing line after Hendry failed to pot the penultimate red in frame 19 and a 93 to the blue sent him into the mid-session interval on the verge of victory.

The contest was brought to a quick conclusion when the players returned to the arena with O’Sullivan’s 79 break settling the issue.