Selby sets up Dott semi

Mark Selby powered past Ding Junhui to set up a semi-final this evening against Graeme Dott at the German Masters.

Selby saw Ding make a first-frame break of 118 but the Leicester potter dominated the rest of the match, without needing to play at his fluent best, to win 5-1.

Ding won the Wembley Masters last month but his scoring chances were restricted by Selby’s efficient display.

“It was always going to be a tough match against Ding after he’s come off the back of his win at the Masters,” said Selby.

“But I played solid snooker and made few mistakes because you cannot allow him the chance to get his hand on the table as he’s one of the best break builders in the world and he’s matured a lot as a player in the last couple of years.

“It wasn’t a plan to have tactical frames – it was just the way the balls ran. I didn’t score spectacularly but I did what I had to do to win the match.”

Dott awaits Selby in the Berlin last four after a superb 5-2 victory over Stephen Maguire.

Maguire opened in style with a 130 break, but Dott seized control of the all-Scottish tussle, with runs of 140, 59. 72 and 91 carrying him over the winning line.

Dott said: “Stephen and I are great friends but when we play we’re great enemies.”

The other semi-final will see Mark Williams take on Marco Fu.

Williams was another winner who saw his opponent fire in an opening-frame century, with Joe Perry making precisely 100.

Welshman Williams was largely untroubled by Perry for the rest of the match though, and made breaks of 122, 62 and 65 to win 5-1.

Fu was another 5-1 winner, crushing Joe Swail.