Ali hoping for first ranking title (From Gazette)

Ali hoping for first ranking title

8:10am Friday 19th December 2008 in Snooker By Matt Plummer

Ali Carter will be hoping to move one step closer to his first ranking title today.

The Colchester-born snooker star begins his Maplin UK Championship semi-final clash with Marcu Fu at the Telford International Centre.

Carter, who grew up in Tiptree, is yet to claim a ranking title but reached the final of this year’s 888.com World Championship in Sheffield, before losing to Essex rival Ronnie O’Sullivan.

Hong Kong cueman Fu – last season’s Royal London Watches Grand Prix champion – made it to his first UK Championship semi-final with a 9-7 defeat of Joe Perry.

The pair will begin their semi-final today, with the second session scheduled for tomorrow.