Perry romps to lead

Joe Perry regained the initiative in his 888.com World Championship semi-final with Ali Carter by winning all four frames before the mid-session interval to lead 11-9 in the best-of-33 meeting at the Crucible Theatre.

A completely out-of-touch Carter managed to amass just 24 points during his mini whitewash as a see-saw clash took another turn in fortunes.

Perry had won the opening session 5-3 but then trailed 9-7 after a revitalised Carter won six of the eight frames yesterday.

This morning it was the turn of Perry to fire on all cylinders with a series of well compiled breaks while Carter was missing even the simplest of pots.

A run of 36 to the final black was sufficient to seal the opening frame for the Cambridgeshire potter whose only final appearance during his professional career was in the 2001 European Open in Malta.

Carter, who was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease in 2003 but now has the illness under control, saw Perry draw level in the next with a run of 57.

And a 58 break in frame 19 put the 33-year-old back in front.

Carter’s lack of form was highlighted in the final frame before the interval when he missed a pink off its spot by several inches and a scrappy spell of snooker ended with a run of 24 to the yellow by Perry which established a two frame advantage.

The dubious privilege awaiting the winner in the final is Ronnie O’Sullivan who produced “snooker perfection” according to his vanquished semi-final opponent Stephen Hendry when romping to a 17-6 win last night.

O’Sullivan had the bonus of a day off to recharge his batteries during which he intended to “go for a run and chill out” after triumphing with a session to spare against seven-times world champion Hendry.

Hendry believes that either Carter or Perry will come off second best if the Rocket produces a similar standard of play in the best of 35 frame final.

He said: “It was outstanding snooker. I thought he played fantastic. It was the best I’ve ever played against. He is the best player in the world now by a country mile.”

And former player and BBC commentator Willie Thorne was equally lavish in his praise for O’Sullivan’s performance which took him through to his third Sheffield final.

Thorne said: “You were watching a genius at work. It was as good as you can see. It was a pure master class. You can’t play better than Ronnie did.”