Ding claims PLS final spot - 26/11/2011

Semi Final 1: Ding Junhui 5-3 Judd Trump
89-37 (Ding 42, 47), 28-53 (Trump 30), 15-74 (Trump 58), 68 - 17 (Ding 59), 139 - 0 (Ding 139), 69-58 (Trump 45, Ding 34), 14-70 (Trump 43), 75-25 (Ding 75)

DING JUNHUI made it through to his first ever final of the PartyPoker.com Premier League Snooker with a comfortable 5-3 win over Judd Trump at Potters Leisure Resort in Norfolk. It was a lacklustre affair in the early stages but the Chinese asserted himself in the latter part with some top quality break-building.

That was the difference between the two and Ding will now face the winner of the second semi-final between Mark Williams and defending champion Ronnie O’Sullivan

In front of a packed house, Ding left himself a tricky red after going into the pack in attempt to nudge them into the open. He missed it as his break ended on 42. Trump himself played a poor positional when on 28 and was forced to play safe. Ding got back to the table and cleared up to take the opener.

The second was a very scrappy affair which Trump edged courtesy of a run of 30 but the Bristol man looked more fluid in the next as a break of 58 put him into the lead.

That didn’t last for long though as Ding put together a run of 59 to square the match at 2-2. Neither player was at their best but with so much at stake it was developing into an intriguing encounter.

However, Ding grabbed the match by the scruff of its next in the fifth frame when he compiled a total clearance of 139. It was the second biggest break of the championship and it moved him into a 3-2 lead.

Trump had a golden opportunity to help his cause in the next after Ding left an easy red on. He missed a red into the centre pocket when on 45 though, and the initiative switched back to the Chinese.

He missed on 34 to leave Trump a great chance but he failed to take it as the frame became scrappy. Trump was offered several chances which he couldn’t convert and Ding stole the frame with a run of 34.

At 4-2 down Trump had it all to do and he won the next to give himself a chance. He missed another red with the rest when on 25 in the eighth frame and left a difficult angled plant for Ding. The Chinese took it on and created a great opportunity to win the match, and a break of 75 saw him over the line and into Sunday night’s final.