China’s Ding Junhui racked up a record-equaling number of centuries by a single player in a Snooker World Championship match on Friday with his sixth, helping him to a 14-10 lead over Alan McManus in the semi-finals.
The 29-year-old Ding hit his fifth ton on the way to a 9-3 advantage over Scot McManus, who responded with his second and third centuries to win five frames and get back to 9-8 at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, England.
World No. 17 Ding finished the evening session in control, but saw the chance of a 147 break disappear in the 20th frame when he missed a black on 113 after struggling for position.
Photo: AP
The pair’s combined total of nine centuries was a record for a World Championship match, one more than the previous mark.
Hong Kong’s 38-year-old world No. 14 Marco Fu came from 5-3 down to draw level at 8-8 with England’s 2014 champion Mark Selby in the other semi-final.
Fu was shocked to see his tip fly off while he was chalking his cue, having tied the score at 7-7 after two centuries in a three-frame streak.
He lost his tip when his score was on 33 in frame 15, but it was glued back on and he completed a break of 81, taking an 8-7 lead.
Former world No. 1 Ding’s six centuries matched Ronnie O’Sullivan’s against Barry Hawkins in the 2013 final and Mark Selby’s versus Stephen Hendry in the second round in 2011.
He is aiming to become the first Asian player to reach the final, but world No. 29 McManus, 45, the oldest player to reach the last four since Ray Reardon in 1985, is putting up a fight.
Fu and world No. 1 Selby were to resume yesterday morning in the best-of-33 frame contest, while Ding and McManus were to play their final session in the afternoon.
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