Ding beats Allen to reach final

Former champion Ding is 13th in snooker's world rankings

Local favourite Ding Junhui sealed his place in the China Open final following a commanding 6-2 win over Mark Allen.

Ding, who celebrated his 23rd birthday on Thursday, dominated the encounter from the start, clinching the victory with a 125 break in the final frame.

Northern Ireland's Allen, who beat seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry in the quarter-finals, could not match his opponent's expansive play.

Ding will play either Ali Carter or Mark Williams in Sunday's final.

Ding had raced into a 3-0 lead, including a superb 137 break in the third frame, before Allen managed to register his first frame of the match to reduce the deficit to two.

World number 13 Ding nailed the next two frames for a 5-1 lead and should have closed out the match in the seventh, but missed the last red to a baulk corner, allowing Allen to clear the table.

But Ding finished off the match in the next frame, sealing his victory with yet another century break.

606: DEBATE Good display from Ding today, he had a couple of weak patches towards the end of the match but finished off in style with a nice break hendry_fan

"Once I was 3-0 up I felt he had lost confidence," said Ding, whose victory in the 2005 final was watched by a TV audience of 110m people according to Chinese state media.

"This season I have learned to just concentrate on the balls, and that has helped keep my mind clear. I will rest tonight and then try my best tomorrow (Sunday)."

Allen admitted he was comprehensively beaten by the better player. "I didn't perform, I struggled with my game," said the 24-year-old.

"Missing the black in the second frame was careless, I lifted my head on the shot. I could have stamped my authority on the match, but instead of being 1-1, 10 minutes later I was 3-0 down.

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