Hicks on course to retain title

Andy Hicks exorcised his deciding frame nightmares in Malvern last night to stay on course to become the first player to regain the Benson and Hedges Championship.

The left-hander, who beat Scotland's Stephen Maguire in the last 16 earlier in the day, has been haunted by a succession of 5-4 defeats in the past 18 months.

And when the former World and UK Championship semi-finalist was taken to the wire by David Gray after being 3-0 and 4-2 up, he feared the worst again, especially as Gray led 61-0 in the decider.

But, this time, Hicks held his nerve and scraped into the semi-finals for the first time since his tournament win three years ago.

"In 80 per cent of the deciders I've lost, I've been unlucky or haven't had a chance," said Hicks, after setting up his best-of-11 frames showdown with Stuart Bingham. "But you can make excuses all day long.

"At some stage you've got to do something to change the luck your way. And it's nice to see someone else on the receiving end."

In the other semi-final, Mark Davis will play Shaun Murphy.