SHEFFIELD (England), May 3: England’s Paul Hunter was two frames away from a first ever appearance in the world championship final after building up a 15-9 lead over 1997 champion Ken Doherty on Friday.

Tournament favourite Mark Williams also moved within reach of the final but his lead was cut to four frames by Stephen Lee. Williams, winner in 2000, is 10-6 ahead going into Saturday’s play in the best-of-33 frames semifinals.

Hunter, 6-2 ahead overnight, moved 11-5 up in the first session, including a superb clearance of 135, although Irishman Doherty responded with runs of 111 and 115.

Doherty claimed the opening frame of the evening session with a 92 break. But Hunter matched him and maintained his six-frame lead at the close of play.

Welshman Williams was 7-1 up at the start of the second session, but Lee mounted a spirit comeback by taking the first four frames to trail by just two at 7-5.

The next three frames went to Williams, but Lee won the final frame of session with an 82 break to trail 10-6.

Latest scores in semifinals (best of 33 frames) on Friday:

Mark Williams (Wales) leads Stephen Lee (England) 10-6. Frame scores (Williams first): 65-61, 113-19, 62-47, 69-39, 74-33, 61-32, 4-140, 95-0, 19-61, 36-64, 25-65, 125-0, 67-64, 78-4, 0-133.

Paul Hunter (England) leads Ken Doherty (Ireland) 15-9. Frame scores (Doherty first): 33-66, 13-93, 71-0, 32-67, 33-90, 70-62, 43-57, 30-73, 94-0, 115-20, 10-111, 12-75, 0-139, 115-0, 4-84, 52-67, 92-0, 59-75, 77-34, 41-59, 59-22, 67-56, 19-75.—Reuters