Ding Junhui and Joe Perry first two through to this year's Snooker World Grand Prix

Ding Junhui and Joe Perry first two through to this year's Snooker World Grand Prix.

Ding Junhui came from 3-1 down to beat Thepchaiya Un-Nooh 4-3, becoming the first man into the semi-finals of the Ladbrokes World Grand Prix in Llandudno. Also check : Snooker Grand Prix Live

In a high quality match, Un-Nooh won the opening frame with a break of 97, then Ding levelled with a 92 before Un-Nooh went on to make an 84 and 74 to lead 3-1.

Ding made 51 in frame five then Un-Nooh had a chance to clear for victory but missed a red on 34.

China's Ding then capitalised to pull one back before making a 65 in the next for 3-3.

And Ding finished in style with a superb 108 in the decider, which included a clever planted red early in the break when he seemed to have run out of position.

"It was very tough today,” said Ding, “I managed to stay in a good frame of mind even when I was 3-1 down.

“Thepchaiya played even better than he does in practice and he was winning frames in one visit. He played with a good rhythm and with confidence.

“Tomorrow will be best of 11 frames and I need to take my chances as quickly as possible to get some momentum. Whoever I play against tomorrow, I just have to play my own game.”

The World Number 12 will now face either Shaun Murphy or Liang Wenbo who face each other later this evening.

In the other afternoon quarter-final, Joe Perry reached his second ranking event semi-final in Wales within a month as he beat Ali Carter 4-1 at the Ladbrokes World Grand Prix.

World number ten Perry got to the last four of the Welsh Open three weeks ago and he’s now through to the same stage in Llandudno.

After sharing the first two frames, Perry took the third with a break of 87 and made a 66 in the fourth. Carter clawed his way back and got the snooker he needed on the yellow, but Perry eventually potted the green to go 3-1 up. And he compiled runs of 37 and 33 in the next to seal the result.

“What has pleased me most this week is that my mannerisms and tempo have been good,” said Perry. “I have kept in control of myself and when you do that you always have a chance. I’m striking the ball well and I felt comfortable today. This is a good spell of the season for me, I have put in a lot of hard work on the practice table and I’m getting results.

“It will be tough tomorrow whoever I play. Ryan has been in form for a while and for me he is the best player never to win a ranking event. Stuart may not have had the best season as World Champion but that’s a problem I’d love to have next season!”

Two more wins would give him the top prize of £100,000 and a second career ranking title. The Cambridgeshire cueman will face Stuart Bingham or Ryan Day on Saturday afternoon for a place in the final.

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