LIANG WENBO is promising fireworks when he meets Marco Fu today in the Betway UK Championship quarter-final.

The Chinese star can’t wait to play his Hong Kong compatriot and declared the pair will put on a show for the York Barbican crowd as they fight for a place in the last four.

Wenbo is gaining a reputation for stunning comebacks at this year's tournament, having fought hard from 3-0 down to beat Judd Trump in the last 32 before summoning a similar miracle against Leicester-based Ford in a 6-5 win.

Wenbo trailed 2-0 and 5-3 but battled back with efforts of 88 and 53 before sealing the match with the help of a steady 49.

He said: "I am very happy with the match. Tom played very well. In the sixth frame, I could have gone 3-3 and I was on 56. I played a long shot and opened the reds.

"I didn't want to open the pack and he cleared up. It was a very good frame and I was 4-2 down. I was under a lot of pressure. I wanted to change, to enjoy it and just play. I did well.

"I concentrated hard and my head was very good. I don't know why. I have never played snooker like this. The last three frames I really enjoyed. I concentrated and it was a good experience."

It was a largely enthralling match, with saw eight breaks over 50, and which was dominated at various points by Ford.

He got off to a great start only for Wenbo to produce a fabulous 122 and 67 on his way to levelling the clash at the mid-session interval.

Wenbo looked broken when, on the resumption, Ford took the fifth frame with 86 and stole the sixth.

The Zhaodong-born 28-year-old had forged in front with 56 but an awful attempt at a cut red allowed his opponent to steal it with a nerveless 58.

And when Ford struck 92 on his way to a 5-3 lead, the game looked over.

But, as he did against Trump, Wenbo found new reserves to level the match before striking a spectacular red in the final frame on his way to sealing the clash.

Asked about his match-up with Fu, Wenbo added: "We are good friends and we will enjoy the game. We will give the fans a good match. I don't think we have played as professionals. I think this is the first time. I want to play (now)."

A stunned Ford, who could only shake his head repeatedly throughout the final frame, said: "I made a good frame to go 4-2 but he went out and he's the most boring player I have played this season.

"He was so slow. Every time he got to the table he took so long so when I did come back it felt like I had not been there for half an hour.

"I don't like slow play anyway. I don't think anybody does. I actually heard a few of the people behind me say he was boring as well so if I don't enjoy it, and the crowd don't enjoy it, cut it out."