China's Ding Junhui studies the table during his first round match against Britain's Jamie Burnett, during the World Snooker Championships, in Sheffield, England, April 18, 2011. [Photo/Agencies]

SHEFFIELD, England - Ding Junhui narrowly failed to become the first Chinese player to reach snooker's World Championship final when he lost his semifinal 17-15 to Judd Trump on Saturday.

Ding led Trump 10-7 before the 21-year-old Englishman fought back to 12-12 by close of play Friday. Both players produced fantastic snooker as the match swayed in both directions.

More about Ding's Sheffield trip:  Trump builds early lead over Ding at semis  Ding makes historic World Champs semis  Ding fights back for first Worlds quarter  Ding into last 16 at snooker championships

Momentum then swung between the pair as Trump went 14-12 up before Ding surged to within two frames of the final with a 15-14 lead. Trump then matched that with three straight frames to become the youngest finalist in a decade.

Ding lives in Sheffield during the season but his local crowd seemed to favor Trump, who won through qualifying rounds just to make the tournament.

But Ding was full of praise for his opponent after both players were given a standing ovation. "I like to watch him play, he's learning quickly, with more experience," he said.

"I tried to put the white ball on the cushion but he just kept coming back. If he keeps potting balls like that then he can win it." 

Trump, who knocked out defending champion Neil Robertson in the first round, set up a final meeting with former champion John Higgins.

Seven-times champion Stephen Hendry is the only player younger than Trump to have reached the final having done so in 1990 when he was 21 years four months to Trump's 21 and five months.

"I'm speechless and I need to go away and think about it before it sinks in," he told the BBC. The more my run goes on, my self-belief keeps going up."

"Just to get to the tournament was an achievement but after winning in China, I came here with an attitude of enjoying it and winning it."