Snooker: Ding reaches last four in fine style

(GETTY IMAGES)

Ding Junhui was in imperious form as he dispatched Graeme Dott 6-2 yesterday in the first quarter-final of the Masters at Wembley Arena.

The Chinese player compiled three sparkling centuries before the mid-session interval and two half-centuries thereafter to see off an out-of-sorts Dott.

The Scotsman struggled for fluency, missing a host of easy balls, and his highest break was just 38. Ding roared out of the blocks to take the first two frames with breaks of 124 and 108, showing no signs of the stuttering form during his first-round win over Mark Williams.

Ding will play Jamie Cope in the semi-finals tomorrow after the 25-year-old from Stoke, making his Masters debut this year, beat Mark King 6-1.