FARAKH Ajaib produced simply 'ton-derful' snooker to storm back from 3-1 down to beat Simon Blackwell and book his place in the semi finals of the inaugural East Lancashire Snooker Championship.

The Poplar Club potter made two century breaks at Hoddlesden Conservative Club in a match co-organiser Jonny Hannan hailed as one of the best he has ever seen in the area.

The match paired two former Fosters Golden Cue grand final winners who are both currently playing on the Challenge Tour.

And in a clash billed as the tie of the round, it did not disappoint.

Watched by a big crowd at Hoddlesden Con Club, Lowerhouse's Blackwell got off to a flying start, racing into a 2-0 lead with a break of 53 along the way.

But Ajaib kept himself in the match winning the third frame to trail 2-1 at the interval.

When the match resumed, Blackwell appeared to be on course for a place in the last four when he latched on to a mistake by Ajaib and made a break of 87 to lead 3-1.

But Ajaib, who is a multiple Golden Cue champion, replied with a nerveless break of 100 to cut the gap to one frame.

And there was even better to come from the Great Harwood man who produced a potting masterclass with a knock of 108 - the highest break of the tournament so far - to force a last frame decider.

In the seventh frame, Ajaib, who has now compiled the three biggest breaks of the competition, got in early and produced a break of 47 but when that broke down, Blackwell had one last chance to steal the match.

However, after missing a tricky black, Ajaib potted the balls he needed to take the match away from this rival and seal a place in the semi finals.

"People expected a classic and a classic is what they got between two of the areas finest players," said Hannan who is running the competition with Jonny Clark. "Both players produced some excellent snooker and I am sure that everyone who was there on the night would agree that was one of the best matches ever seen in East Lancashire."

Ajaib joins current Golden Cue overall champion Pete Mercer in the last four after the Clitheroe man beat John Barnes 4-1 to keep his hopes of winning the double alive.

Hannan will now turn his attentions to playing rather than organising when he takes on former professional Justin Astley from Darwen in third of the quarter finals on Tuesday night.

And on Thursday, surprise package, Shabz Ditta takes on Jack Dady.

Both matches will be played at Hoddlesden Con Club (7.30pm start).

The East Lancashire Snooker Championship 'finals weekend' will take place at the same venue next week.

The Plate final, for players who were knocked out in the first round, take place on Friday, November 2 with both semi finals (1pm and 5pm) of the main event taking place on Saturday, November 3.

The final will take place on Sunday, November 4 and an added incentive for the first winner of the competition will be a frame against Shaun 'The Magician' Murphy in his forthcoming exhibition at Hoddlesden Con Club.