China's Ding Junhui will take on veteran qualifier Alan McManus in the semifinals of the snooker world championship at the Crucible Theatre here on Thursday.

McManus, 45, beat four-time champion John Higgins 13-11 to reach the semifinals for the first time since 1993. Ding had a day off after crushing twice champion Mark Williams 13-3 on Tuesday.

McManus trailed 5-3, 7-5, 9-7 and 10-8, scored four half-centuries and a 128 to win five of the last six frames.

Marco Fu of Hong Kong, China held off a brilliant Barry Hawkins comeback to win 13-11, setting up a last four clash with world number one Mark Selby, who defeated qualifier Kyren Wilson 13-8 in an earlier match.

Hawkins, who reached the semis in the last three years, trailed 7-1 overnight and slipped 9-1 behind in Wednesday's morning session.

But the world number 11 won eight out of nine frames and trail 10-9. Fu won the next two to make it 12-9 but Hawkins fought back again to win two more frames and lead by 60 points in the 24th frame. Fu closed out the win with a nerveless 74.