Deta Hedman (Eng) bt Rhian Edwards (Wal) 2-1
Top seed Deta Hedman dished out the medicine to topple nursery nurse Rhian
Edwards 2-1 and reach the last four.
But she was forced to dig deep, having to battle back from a first set 3-0
reversal at the hands of Edwards, who finished runner-up in the last world
championships.
Hedman will feel she has buried the Lakeside jinx following the 36-minute
encounter which saw her despatch 119 and 96 finishes, repelling a superlative
155 finish from Edwards.
Edwards surged through the opening set unchallenged, punishing the top seed for
spells of inconsistency which had plagued the Essex-based player 12 months ago.
But 52-year-old Hedman turned back the clock, producing vintage form to sweep to
a 119 checkout, finished on bull to take the opening leg of the second set,
against the throw, holding the advantage in the next but agonising as Edwards
fired in double four.
Confident Hedman powered down to the double in the next, the Dark Destroyer
blasting in a 96 match-levelling checkout, finished on double tops.
The opening leg of the third set went with the throw to Hedman on double eight
as the pace of the match increased, Edwards missing double five for a 95
checkout, as Hedman coolly exited on double tops.
However the battling Welsh player replied by producing the biggest checkout
achieved in the history of the women’s tournament – 155 – to save her title
hopes but then missed double tops for a match-saving 74.
Hedman made no mistake firing in double 20 to move menacingly into the last
four.