Ding Junhui has established a 5-3 overnight lead against Mark Selby after the opening session of their 2017 World Championship semi-final on Thursday, while John Higgins holds the same advantage over Barry Hawkins at the Crucible.

In a repeat of last year’s final, Ding made an early statement in the opening frame after Selby ran out of position on 41 – ruthlessly clearing with 76 to draw first blood.

The reigning champion hit back with 68 and was in first in frame three but, once again, the Chinese cueist pounced with 84 to go back in front.

Selby replied with 68 and won a cagey 35-minute long fifth frame to edge his nose ahead for the first time at 3-2.

The sixth was also lengthy before a run of 52 was enough for Ding to level. He then dominated the next with runs of 56 and 50, before a brilliant break of 110 saw him open a two-frame cushion over the world number one.

Meanwhile, Hawkins recovered from 4-0 down to only trail Higgins by the same scoreline overnight.

The four-time champion, back in the semis for the first time since 2011, stamped his authority on the contest in the opening frame – tying Hawkins in a tasty snooker, from which a break of 63 saw him draw first blood.

He then took advantage of some sloppy play from the Hawk to double his lead, before a run of 59 opened up a 3-0 advantage.

Higgins was in first with 69 in frame and, despite Hawkins threatening to steal before missing the pink with the rest, punished the missed opportunity for 4-0.

Hawkins, who is appearing in his fourth Crucible semi-final in five years, hit back after the interval, with a run of 38 overturning a 30-0 deficit, before clearing with 62 to get his first frame on the board.The 2013 finalist pulled back another thanks to a break of 71, but a loose positional shot in the next eventually saw Higgins restore his three-frame buffer at 5-2.

World number six Higgins then had a great chance for 6-2 but broke down on 38 after missing a blue to the top corner, and Hawkins punished by clearing with 74 to only trail by two frames.