Campbell books semi spot in Dublin

Marcus Campbell came from behind to beat Stuart Bingham 4-3 in today’s last-16 clash at the Players Tour Championship Finals in Dublin to continue his good run of form.

The Scot trailed 3-2 and saw Bingham move to the brink of victory by taking a 40-5 lead in frame six before missing a tricky pot to the middle pocket.

Campbell responded by taking that frame with a 58 to level the match and then wrapping up victory with a superb clearance of 126.

The 38-year-old stands at number 32 in the world rankings and is set to move into the top 30 for the first time, and said: “This is the highest I’ve ever been so I just have to keep rolling on.

“I’m playing with a lot of confidence at the moment and winning a PTC event (in Germany in October) made a big difference.”

Nottingham’s Michael Holt is targeting his first ranking semi-final after an equally closely-fought win over Barry Pinches.

Holt led after a 102 in the first frame and, after Pinches recovered to lead 2-1 and 3-2, wrapped up the win with breaks of 83 and 44.

He said: “I don’t feel I’ve done myself justice in my career as I think I’m good enough to compete at the top level but have never done that.

“I’ve never been in the semi-final of a main ranking event, only the quarter-finals, which is disappointing because I think I’m better than that.

“But if I keep playing like that then I think I’ve got a good chance of winning a tournament and I think I can win this.”

Stephen Lee was rarely troubled in beating Mark Davis 4-1, surging into a two-frame lead before wrapping up victory with the aid of a 58 in frame five.

Lee next faces a quarter-final against Shaun Murphy, a 4-2 winner over Ricky Walden yesterday.