Dubai-based Peter Ebdon beat holder Ding Junhui 9-5 to join Scotland's John Higgins in the semifinals of the Maplin UK Championship at York's Barbican Center on Wednesday.

Double champion Higgins had earlier defeated Joe Perry 9-3 to deny the Englishman a third successive appearance in the last four.

Ebdon, the 2002 world champion and UK runner-up to Stephen Hendry in 1995, led Ding 6-2 at half way and won a crucial 12th frame. He also captured the last two frames, sealing victory with his highest break of the match, a 99.

Defeat was a bitter blow for Ding who had played on every day since arriving in York after winning all three Cue Sport snooker disciplines at the Asian Games in Qatar last week.

Ding had a hectic program in Doha where he played a total of 14 matches winning 47 frames and losing only 12. But in the end it did seem tiredness caught up with him.

Higgins virtually made sure of victory in taking a 7-0 lead. He had breaks of 69, 62 and 47, but saved his best to last when recording a 106 to seal victory.

(Source: Shenzhen Daily/Agencies December 18, 2006)