Lee - thrilled with progress. (Getty Images)
LEE THRILLED TO PROGRESS
Stephen Lee is expecting a "cracker" when he plays new world number one Mark
Williams for a place in the Embassy World Championship final.
Trowbridge based Lee, who knocked out crowd favourites Steve Davis and Jimmy
White to reach the last eight, wore down Marco Fu 13-7.
He now meets Welshman Williams over the best of 33 frames in what will be the
longest match of his career.
"Playing at the Crucible with the one table set-up is what it's all about and
I can't wait," said the world number seven.
"You know what you get with Mark but I'm looking forward to it.
"There's no pressure on me and I'm just going out to enjoy it."
Lee and Fu resumed this afternoon with a 4-4 stalemate after Tuesday's opening
session.
But helped by five unanswered frames the former LG Cup and Scottish Open
champion made his move for the last four.
Fu, struggling to make the impact he had done against Ronnie O'Sullivan and
Alan McManus in the first two rounds, managed to take frame 14.
And after a break of 72 he looked set to pull back another frame as Lee
required two snookers.
However, Lee got the snookers and obtained a free ball before pinching the
frame on the black.
"I would have jumped out of the window had I lost that frame after all the
hard work I put in," he said.
With the score standing at 10-5 the game was halted to allow the players an
hour breather before the start of the final session.
"I would have been happy to stay on after winning that frame," said Lee.
"I didn't really have time to go back to the hotel and have a shower.
"So, I just stayed in the venue, had some sandwiches, took my waistcoat and
bow tie off and just chilled out."
Fu tried to make a match of it when they eventually resumed but Lee was not
about to let his first ever Embassy semi-final slip from his grasp.
"It's been a great experience but today I really wasn't in it," said the
25-year-old from Hong Kong.
"It's such a hard tournament to win but I felt a lot more comfortable out
there this year.
"I've been happy with my performances and it's no disgrace losing to a player
like Stephen."
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