DING JUNHUI is now the 15-8 favourite (Skybet) to win the Sanyuan Foods China Open for a second time and he looks the safe bet considering how well he is playing in his native homeland.
The UK champion defeated Peter Ebdon on Thursday, making another century break – his fifth of the tournament – as well as two more 90+ knocks and he should be backed at a general 8-13 to see off Ulsterman Mark Allen.
His 5-2 win over reigning champion Ebdon may not have scaled the heights of his previous match with Mark Selby, but it was business as usual and he looks the man to side with again.
As for Allen, he looked dead and buried against Stephen Hendry and was staring defeat straight in the face after slipping 4-2 behind, with Hendry looking in the mood for glory. But the feisty Northern Irishman dug deep to wrest the match from the Scot's grasp with some tenacious play at the table, including a superbly executed break of 77 in the final frame to win his the match.
I remain to be convinced by Allen, though, and I think Ding will have his measure here, especially in front of a passionate 'home' crowd.
The other match sees two-time China Open winner MARK WILLIAMS up against Ali Carter, with the Welshman 4-6 with bet365 to progress. He has a really tough run to the semis, having to get past Jamie Cope, John Higgins and my selection Marco Fu, and he really has excelled in Beijng.
This season as a whole has seen a new and improved Williams return to the table and he should be able to overcome 'Captain' Carter who has enjoyed too easy a ride thus far, having seen off Liu Chuang, Joe Perry and Mark King.
