Australian Open 2011 - Semi-Finals

It's the sixth day of the Australian Goldfields Open in Bendigo and we know the identity of the two players that will be in tomorrow's final. Stuart Bingham continued his impressive form of late and saw off Shaun Murphy and Mark Williams came through his match against Ken Doherty.

Updated Tournament Draw

Day 6 - Semi-Finals

Shaun Murphy 2-6 Stuart Bingham

The first semi-final match of the day was between the former world champip Shaun Murphy and the recent UK Championship quarter-finalist Stuart Bingham. Both players showed strong form going in to this event but it went the way of Stuart 'Ballrun' Bingham as he won the match by a 6-2 scoreline.

Both players admitted that Stuart had the run of the ball in the match but Shaun had chances but failed to capitalize on them. Stuart now has reached his first major ranking event final of his 16-year career and has definitely put his famous victory in 2000 over Stephen Hendry at the crucible to rest.

"All the hard work and dedication has finally paid off," said an emotional Bingham.

"This has to be the best achievement for me. It's something I've wanted to do all of my life and I just hope I play well in the final.

"I beat Stephen Hendry in the World Championships (in 2000) and thought I had made it but a few things happened off the table that I wasn't happy with it.

"At one stage I nearly dropped off the tour and lost ten matches on the trot. I was about 76th in the rankings when there were only 90 players.

"I turned professional in 1995 and it's everyone's dream to become World Champion and world number one. But as the years went on you start doubting yourself."

Bingham, who practices at the Q Ball Sports Bar in Basildon, has defeated Ding Junhui, Tom Ford, Mark Allen and now Murphy to reach the final.

He believes his form has improved in the last two years due to support from his family - mum Maureen, dad Eddie, brother Lee and fiancé Michelle - and help from manager Gary Purkiss.

Bingham also credits the influence of regular sessions with shot alignment specialist Stephen Feeney at SightRight as being a major factor in the improvement in his game.

"You have to put it down to SightRight as it's helped me out and got me my confidence and everything is working great," said Bingham.

"It's more about alignment and getting me through a routine and it's something I can rely on. It's a couple of hours a session and he looks down the line and makes sure I'm in the line of the shot.

"It has been a good couple of years and it's good to get myself back to where I think I belong. I've got my fiancé and am just more happy off the table."

Bingham defeated champion Stephen Hendry in the opening round of the 2000 World Championships but is pleased that this latest victory will put that success in the shade.

"It's nice to put that Hendry result to rest," added Bingham. "People will talk about my final here and not just about beating Stephen Hendry.

"It's going to be tough but the toughest thing is controlling my emotions.

"Shaun didn't play anything like what he can. His safety was really good but the balls weren't running for him. He had chances to win frames but didn't do that and you don't normally see that from Shaun.

"I felt like I didn't settle even though I made 100 in the first frame.

Murphy was happy with the start to his campaign, but felt he underachieved in the match. He said: "I had chances in the first four frames but I didn't take them.

"After the interval I had quite a bit of bad run and every time I missed a shot I seemed to leave him with a great opportunity.

"I felt the snooker gods had decided I wasn't going to win but if I had taken my chances maybe the match would've been different."

"You're very disappointed to lose at any stage, in the first round or the semi-final. It hurts to lose 5-4, 6-5 or 6-0 but it's a good start to the season and look to build on that as the season continues."

Quotes courtesy; World Snooker

Mark Williams 6-2 Ken Doherty

Stuart Bingham will play Mark Williams in his maiden final as Mark beat the former world champion and BBC pundit 6-2 in their semi-final match. Mark is the current world no.1 and recently reached the semi-finals with team Wales at the world cup and is looking in fine form at the moment and has overtaken Mark Selby in the provisional rankings and stands a good chance of being no.1 in a few months.

Ken could not repeat his feats in this match which helped him beat the likes of Stephen Maguire and Mark Selby and failed to produce a game of the highest standards but it has still been a good week for the Irishman and he will be looking forward to the rest of the season.

"It was a tough game and Ken didn't miss a lot," said Williams. "It's just nice to see him back playing and getting to the latter stages. This could be the springboard he needs to get back up the rankings.

"After the first match I've played quite well and the tables have been excellent and the crowd excellent. I'm just looking forward to the final.

"It's not easy to get to the final so I'm just going to enjoy it. I probably haven't got many more finals in me left."

Williams made breaks of 110 and 106 but also of 47, 53, 48, 56 and 49 as he remained on course to win his 19th ranking tournament.

Doherty had enjoyed a fine run in this tournament that included victories over top ten ranked players Stephen Maguire and Mark Selby but missed out on a first ranking final for five years.

However, the 41-year-old Irishman was pleased with his performances at the Bendigo Stadium in Bendigo, Victoria.

"Tonight Mark gave me a few chances but I didn't take them and when he's flowing and in the balls he looks fantastic," said Doherty.

"He was very smooth and had the pace of the table perfect.

"I've enjoyed every match I've played here and the atmosphere was enjoyable. I'm just a bit disappointed in my own performance. Mark will be pleased with his but I'm disappointed and I didn't live up to the standard of previous matches but that's the way sport is.

"Every day is difference and you have to push yourself on but I've had a good week and it's been a good way to start the season."

Quotes courtesy; World Snooker

Tomorrow sees the end of a brilliant tournament in Australia and it has been recieved extremely well by the fans, not just overseas watching the event but the locals in Bendigo and the surrounding areas.

Let's hope we get an amazing final to top it off tomorrow. You would have to fancy Mark Williams to win judging by his form in the last two matches but Stuart has showed that he has got bottle and anything can happen.

DAY 6 RESULTS

Semi-finals

Shaun Murphy 2-6 Stuart Bingham

Mark Williams 6-2 Ken Doherty

Centuries

Stuart Bingham 114, 112

Mark Williams 110, 106