Ding Junhui beats Stephen Maguire to reach UK final

World number 14 Ding Junhui booked his place in Sunday's final of the UK Championship with a convincing 9-5 win over Stephen Maguire.

Breaks of 66, 75 and 83 helped the 28-year-old to a 5-3 lead over his Scottish opponent in the first session.

After the break, Maguire hit back to level at 5-5 but Ding claimed frame 11 with a break of 134 and then the next three frames to seal a deserved win.

Ronnie O'Sullivan faces John Higgins in the second semi-final on Saturday.

World number two Maguire came into the match with the psychological edge over Ding, having beaten him in six of the last seven meetings between the two.

But Ding, who had won the last match between the two, showed no fear in an impressive display under pressure.

The Chinese player said: "At 5-5 there was a lot of pressure on me but I was lucky in the next frame.

"He potted the red and the white went in off and left me an easy chance. I just had to keep my concentration and make a big break.

"The next match will be very hard. They (O'Sullivan and Higgins) are both good."

The pair shared a nervy first four frames - with Maguire securing a session-highest break of 97 in the fourth - before Ding took firm control of the match.

The 2005 champion claimed a scrappy fifth frame and then extended his lead with an 83 break to take the next.

Ding looked to be running away with the encounter after a break of 54 gave him the sixth frame but Maguire showed great resilience to hit back to claim the final frame of the session with a decisive break of 64.

It is a testimony to Maguire that, despite not being at his best, he was able to claw his way back into the match, albeit with a large slice of luck.

He firstly claimed a nervy opening frame of the evening session on the black before a moment of good fortune also gave him the next and brought him level with Ding.

Ding needed a snooker with just the blue, pink and black remaining, but secured it when Maguire failed to swerve around the pink.

However, Maguire then fluked the blue into the middle pocket with his next shot to get back on level terms.

Ding showed no signs of being affected by the setback though and struck back to claim the next frame with the highest break of the match - an extremely composed 134.

Having once again taken the lead, Ding never looked back giving Maguire little opportunity as he claimed the next three frames and the match.

Maguire admitted the defeat proved that he came up short in the tournament.

"I need to get back on the practice table and get back to where I was a couple of years ago," he said.

"It's frustrating because I know I can compete with that. When I was asked the question I couldn't deliver.

"All week it's not been one visit. No-one's punished me, it's different when you come up against someone like Ding who is doing it in one visit.

"He looks very good amongst the balls, but I gave him more chances then he'll probably get in the final."