German Masters

In typical Juddernaut fashion, Judd stormed into a 4-0 lead in just 45 minutes!! He couldn't keep it up after the interval and allowed Thepchaiya Un-Nooh to get a couple of frames back. A careless shot by Un-Nooh at the start of the 7th frame let in Judd to make a 135 clearance and win 5-2

I switched on Discovery Plus it to watch Tom Ford playing Fan Zhengyi, and Ford, 4-3 down. made a similar careless error near the start of the 8th frame. Although Zhengyi only made 26 out of it, he did win the frame and run out a 5-3 winner.

Robertson lost. 5-3 to Kyren Wilson. John Higgins beat Mark Allen 5-2. Higgins plays Judd in the quarter finals, Wilson gets Zhengyi. Ryan Day will play Si Jiahui while Ali Carter plays the winner of the remaining match between Sam Craigie and Xu Si

Ford seems to have had many good runs this season and not converted any of them. I saw in the Neil-Kyren match that the commentary pointed out both have been dire this year and could do with a title this week to improve things.

Kyren, Si Jiahui, Craigie and Zhengyi all need to win the title to get into the top 16 on the year ranking list directly from the German Masters but if they don't they can use it as a stepping stone in conjunction with the Welsh Open (if they are all still in it) to try to qualify for the Players Championship.

Judd and Higgins were 2-2 at the interval. In frame 5 Higgins made a 53 break and played safe. Judd then potted an unbelievable red and made a 68 break that left Higgins needing a snooker on the pink. In frame 6 Higgins missed a simple red when on a break of 19 and Judd made a 74 break to mercilessly take a 4-2 lead. Higgins didn't pot a ball in the last frame as Judd completed a 5-2 victory.

Si Jiahui demolished Ryan Day 5-1 in the other quarter final.

Carter this evening getting commentary as though he were Ronnie O'Sullivan, and Craigie were just some bloke who wandered in off the street. Even after Craigie went to a 2-0 lead. (4-0 at the interval, I see - same for Kyren up on Fan).

Kyren completed his whitewash. Carter got one back with a 90 break but lost 5-1.

I have checked and Craigie is out of the Welsh Open but Si Jiahui and Kyren are still in it. So Craigie has to win the German Masters title to get into the top 16 on the 1YRL for the Players Championship, but Jiahui and Kyren will get another chance if they don't.

In tomorrow's semi-finals Judd plays Craigie, Kyren plays Si Jiahui

(02-02-2024 22:25 )Joannis Wrote:  So Craigie has to win the German Masters title to get into the top 16 on the 1YRL for the Players Championship,

I doubt that's at all in his thoughts. I think they said he was ranked around #50, so consolidating that, or making the top 32, would seem more plausible targets, and making his first ranking event semi-final.

But he can be glad with all our thanks for beating Captain Misery.

It may be in Si Jiahui's mind though. Jiahui was 2-0 down but won 5 frames in a row to go 5-2 up, getting a fantastic 138 break along the way. Kyren did get one back, and he was playing on in the 9th frame despite needing 3 snookers to tie on the blue, but Si Jiahui ran out a 6-3 winner. Even if Si Jiahui loses tomorrow he'll be breathing down Lyu Haotian's neck for the top 16 spot in the 1YRL, and with a good run in the Welsh Open, and with Lyu Haotian being out, he could seal it.

Judd leading 3-1 at the Interval.

Pleased for Si, a first ranking tournament final, and earned in style.

Judd wasn't playing to the standard he was yesterday and he was making heavy weather of it, but Craigie was making unforced errors aplenty in a very nervy semi final which Judd won 6-2.

If Judd doesn't raise his game tomorrow, Si Jiahui could win his first ranking tournament.

In the first session Judd was trying to control the exchanges and slow the game down, and he had some success with that tactic, taking a 5-3 lead.

Si Jiahui started off the evening session with a fantastic 123 break, but it was obvious that Judd has his mojo back and was playing to a higher standard. Judd got 2 century breaks of his own as he took a 7-4 lead, and he completed a 10-5 victory with a break of 81.

Si Jiahui, though, is just behind the top 16 in the 1YRL and if he plays well in the Welsh Open he could get into that top 16 qualify for the Players Championship.