Rate it!

2 votes

Ding Junhui thrashed Mark Williams 6-1 to advance through to the final of the Grand Prix in Glasgow.

The Chinese player was as efficient as the scoreline was emphatic with his opponent left to rue an evening where he could do little right.

If Williams's performance was error-strewn, his display in the opening frame belied what was to follow.

The Welshman produced a stunning 142 to stamp his authority on the match with the highest break of the tournament so far, surpassing the 135s compiled by John Higgins and Peter Ebdon.

But Ding was undeterred and proceeded to steal the second frame in scrappy circumstances as Williams wavered.

The world number 13 then took the third frame with a serene break of a 103 to establish a 2-1 lead as he continued to grow in confidence and conviction.

More profligate play from Williams enabled Ding to stretch his lead and create a two-frame cushion at 3-1 as the Welshman committed three uncharacteristic errors on loose reds.

The fifth frame was a scrappy affair as both players contrived to miss numerous opportunities to seize the initiative and one rash shot too many from Williams gifted Ding a three-frame lead.

A prolonged safety exchange ensued in the sixth frame which Ding again edged after showing a cool head to snooker his opponent before sinking the brown from range.

As Williams sat despondently in his chair, Ding positively sprung out of his to get off the mark in the seventh frame, but he allowed his opponent a final chance.

The Welshman moved to 35 but once again left a long red hanging over the jaws of the far corner pocket and Ding capitalised in typically clinical fashion.

The Chinese player swaggered his way through what proved to be the final frame with a break of 85 and left a dejected Williams to mull over his mistakes.

Ding will now face Australia's Neil Robertson, who won the event in 2006, in Sunday's final at Kelvin Hall.

Watch the final between Ding Junhui and Neil Robertson LIVE at 2pm Sunday on British Eurosport 2 (Sky 411 / Virgin Media 525); Also available on your PC via the Eurosport Player - click on the link under the picture to subscribe

Dan Quarrell / Eurosport