Amazing Maze battles back

Maze fought back from three games, 10-7 down and saved four match points before overcoming Hao 5-11 8-11 6-11 12-10 11-7 11-9 11-6.

"Normally the Chinese are very confident against the European players because they know they always win," the world number 19 said. "But they don't know how to react against me."

Germany's Timo Boll and Christian Seuss play for the chance to become the first European winners of the men's doubles crown since 1991 against China's Kong Linghui and Wang Hao later on Thursday.

"Amazing" Maze now faces his third Chinese opponent of the tournament when he plays Ma Lin in the semi-finals on Friday. Ma, ranked second in the world, beat compatriot Liu Guozheng 5-11 9-11 13-11 11-8 11-6 11-9 in his quarter-final.

"I've shown that I can beat them," said the 23-year-old Maze, who lost in the first round of the last world championships in Paris 2003. "I always believe I can win."

In the other quarter-finals, South Korean Oh Sang Eun beat Swede Peter Karlsson 11-7 11-13 11-7 11-7 7-11 11-9 to set up a last four meeting with world number one Wang Liqin, who downed his fellow-Chinese Chen Qi 8-11 12-10 11-4 8-11 11-9 11-3.

In the semi-finals of the women's singles it was business as usual for the host country with world champion Zhang Yining beating Lin Ling of Hong Kong.

The world number one had little trouble in downing Lin Ling 10-12 11-4 11-5 11-3 11-7 to set up an all-Chinese final against Guo Yan, who beat 16-year-old Guo Yue 10-12 11-3 11-6 11-7 11-9.

The final will take place on Thursday evening.