Ken Doherty kept his VCPoker.ie Irish Professional Championship title defence on track by sweeping aside teenager Vincent Muldoon 5-0 in Dublin last night.
Doherty finished off with a break of 72 to record his second successive whitewash, having thrashed Patrick Wallace 5-0 in the first round.
The 1997 world champion faces Northern Ireland's Gerard Greene, a 5-2 winner over Michael Judge, for a place in the final at the Red Cow Exhibition Centre.
Doherty effectively punished Muldoon's mistakes and used his greater experience despite not playing at the top of his game.
‘I was pleased with how I played again,’ said the 38-year-old Dubliner. ‘I hold this tournament in high esteem so I'm delighted to still be here.’
Greene constructed breaks of 55, 41, 53 and 48 on his way to beating Judge, who finished runner-up to Doherty last year.
The world number 32 is based in Kent but both his parents are from Northern Ireland.
And Greene was delighted to reach the semis after being forced to move clubs when his base in Maidstone closed down during the summer.
He explained: ‘It shut down in the summer and I only found a new one in Sidcup last week.
‘I've been knuckling down since so I'm pleased to have found some form here and I'd love to go on and win it.’
Fergal O'Brien, who beat Alex Higgins on Wednesday, faces 21-year-old Antrim potter Mark Allen for a semi-final place tomorrow, while Dubliner Joe Delaney tackles Belfast's Joe Swail.
