Davis tweak reaps rewards

Steve Davis has lifted the lid on the change of technique that has carried him through to a dream semi-final against Stephen Hendry at the Travis Perkins UK Championship in York.

The 48-year-old, who had seemed to be a fading force a couple of years ago, has rediscovered his form with a vengeance and ousted title-holder Stephen Maguire and Ken Doherty on his way to the last four.

Now he takes on his great rival of the late 1980s and early 1990s bidding to secure a place in his 100th career final, and the six-times world champion’s resurgence is down to a tweak in the way the lines up his shots – something that has reaped a massive dividend.

“I discovered it some time over the summer without actually playing,” said the world number 15, who was expected to have most of a sell-out crowd at the Barbican Centre behind him today for a clash that evokes memories of yesteryear.

“I was just thinking about things. It may have even been before the World Championship, but I truly got to grips with things over the summer months – not playing, just thinking.

“I then had a bit of experimentation and found I had started potting the balls better. Sometimes when it falls into place it doesn’t take that much getting used to and I started playing much better once this season started.

“I feel like I’m hitting the ball better now than I’ve ever done, and if I had done in the 1980s what I’m doing now then I would have fancied being more accurate. I know it sounds stupid but I really feel quite accurate at the moment.”

Davis has long been considered a tactical expert and his game in recent years has centred upon tying his opponent in knots with his safety play.

But his victories this week, notably against Maguire, when he compiled his highest tournament break for 23 years, a 145, have shown the six-times former UK champion is playing an attacking brand of snooker comparable with any of the other top stars.

“Against Ken I didn’t have any negative thoughts,” added Davis. “I was playing without thinking about what could happen and which is the best frame of mind to be in – I was just playing the balls. Every chance I got I was just immersed in the game.”

That, of course, has been the Hendry mentality throughout his illustrious career and it simply looks as though the man who makes the fewest mistakes when in the balls will reach the final.

In Sunday’s showdown one of them will meet either 18-year-old Chinese prodigy Ding Junhui, who saw off Australian emerging talent Neil Robertson with a 9-5 success, or world number 14 Joe Perry.

It means a chance for Perry to avenge his 9-8 defeat by David Gray in last year’s semi-finals, the Cambridgeshire player having been boosted by edging out Stuart Bingham in a decider to reach this stage.

“Hopefully I’ve already put the ghosts of last year to rest,” said the 30-year-old. “But everyone knows how good Ding is so it will be another tough match.

“He is good for the game and it’s good that he is performing well on television. Now it’s my job not to make it easy for him.”