2017 World Snooker Championship (Day 14) - a semi-finals story

The semi-finals are underway here at the Crucible, after three sessions Mark Selby and Ding Junhui being on a tie (12-12), while John Higgins holds a 10-6 advantage over his opponent, Barry Hawkins.

A lot of twist and turns between the reigning world champion Mark Selby and China's best Ding Junhui, as the pair ended their first session with Ding in the lead 5-3, but the second one with Selby holding the upper hand, 9-7.

Selby was the one to draw level at five apiece, thanks to a great contribution of 100 break, but also to winning the second frame of the second session on the black, the 2016 world champion not stopping there and using one more top break of 67 to cash the following two frames and go 7-5 up.

After the mid-session interval, Ding became more consistent using a break of 84 to win his first frame of the day, while Selby responded with a 85 to restore the two-frame lead.

Ding didn't give in and used a superb 139 to pull back a frame, though Selby still closed the session 9-7 up.

The third session started with Selby extending his lead after hitting a break of 128, the lads sharing frames until the interval when the scoreline was still in favour of "The Jester", 11-9.

Ding took the the first frame after the break, but following the unwritten pattern Selby took the next one, with the only difference that this time the Chinese player cashed two frames in a row thanks to breaks of 117 and 128 to draw level at 12-12.

The lads will return for their final session today from 2.30pm. This is a re-match of last year's World Championship final, so there's so much at stake!


John Higgins is still in the leading position after two sessions, putting his opponent Barry Hawkins in all sorts of trouble.

Ending their first session with Higgins at 5-3 up, Hawkins was the one to break the ice when the lads returned into the arena yesterday, but the Scotsman was sure to cash the next two frames with a top break of 51 to go 7-4 up.

Hawkins produced a tremendous 115 to pull one back just before the mid-session interval, but after the 15-minutes break the players just shared frames, this ending in favor of Higgins who is now 10-6 up.

The players will return today from 10am and 7pm UK time for their last sessions.

Photos credit: World Snooker