China's Ding to meet McManus in snooker worlds semis

China's Ding Junhui will take on veteran qualifier Alan McManus in the semifinals of the snooker world championship at the Crucible Theatre here on Thursday.

McManus, 45, beat four-time champion John Higgins 13-11 to reach the semifinals for the first time since 1993. Ding had a day off after crushing twice champion Mark Williams 13-3 on Tuesday.

McManus trailed 5-3, 7-5, 9-7 and 10-8, scored four half-centuries and a 128 to win five of the last six frames.

Marco Fu of Hong Kong, China held off a brilliant Barry Hawkins comeback to win 13-11, setting up a last four clash with world number one Mark Selby, who defeated qualifier Kyren Wilson 13-8 in an earlier match.

Hawkins, who reached the semis in the last three years, trailed 7-1 overnight and slipped 9-1 behind in Wednesday's morning session.

But the world number 11 won eight out of nine frames and trail 10-9. Fu won the next two to make it 12-9 but Hawkins fought back again to win two more frames and lead by 60 points in the 24th frame. Fu closed out the win with a nerveless 74.