Snooker

Day Eleven: WILSON AND HAWKINS BUILD SIGNIFICANT CRUCIBLE LEADS

Kyren Wilson played superbly to construct an 11-5 lead over a jaded looking Mark Allen in their last eight clash.
Allen knocked in a break of 60 to take the opening frame before Wilson hit back with runs of 52 and 125 to go 2-1 in front. The Northern Irishman countered with a 51 break to level before The 'Warrior' rattled in a break of 90 to retake the lead. Allen levelled again at 3-3 and both men hit frame winning contributions to share the last two of the morning to leave the match evenly poised at 4-4.
Into the evening then and Wilson roared out of the traps to win the first three frames helped by breaks of 105 and 90 to go 7-4 up before Allen arrested the slide with a run of 78. But Wilson surged away again with another 3 frame salvo to go 10-5 in front aided by runs of 63 and 49.
Last frame of the day - crucial for both players but Wilson it was who rounded off an excellent evening session display with a closing 92 to seal a commanding six frame overnight advantage.

Barry Hawkins has established an 11-5 advantage over an out of sorts Ding Junhui with some solid snooker on the first day of their quarter final match.
Hawkins claimed the first frame with a composed 64 before Ding took the next to level. The Hawk then established a two frame cushion after breaks of 82 and 50 before the man from China hit a 76 to reduce his arrears.
Hawkins controlled frame 6 to go 4-2 up before Ding rolled in a 67 to go back within one frame.
Hawkins compiled his 4th half century of the session to seize a narrow advantage by the close of the morning.
Ding got in first in all of the evenings three opening frames but could not win any of them as breaks of 73 and 76 helped Hawkins into an 8-3 lead. Ding in trouble then but he responded with contributions of 102 and 52 to claw back to 5-8 behind.
But Hawkins pulled away again with breaks of 63 and 47 to go 10-5 up and then followed it with a magnificent closing 113 clearance to leave the number three seed with much to do to recover a six frame deficit tomorrow.

Judd Trump leads four time champion John Higgins 5-3 after the opening exchanges of their quarter final clash. The Bristolian took the first frame before the Scot levelled with a 57. Higgins was in front again in frame three but could not finish the frame and Trump stepped in with an immaculate 58 clearance to win on the black.
Higgins was made to pay further as the Bristolian powered in breaks of 100 and 71 to go 4-1 clear. The Wizard of Wishaw countered to win the next two frames aided by a run of 74 in frame 6 but Trump ensured an overnight lead with an excellent 77 break in the last of the afternoon.

Mark Williams and Ali Carter are locked at 4-4 in a bid to reach the last four.
Williams hit the ground running with a fabulous 135 total clearance.
Carter hit back though with a 63 clearance of his own to trump a Williams break of 61 in frame two. The 'Captain' then plundered a superb break of 126 to go 2-1 up before Williams took the next two frames helped by a run of 84 in frame five.
Carter responded to take the next two frames assisted by a break of 82 in frame seven before the Welshman claimed the last of the afternoon to leave the match evenly poised heading into tomorrow.

Ding v Williams looked interesting, but Carter v Hawkins looks more likely. These are the times when all those "potential world champion" arguments go out the window. Looks like the final will be between an exciting option from the top half of the draw and a tedious one from the bottom half.

Result: Barry Hawkins bt Ding Junhui 13-5

Was interesting to see how well John Higgins came back from 7-3 down to 8-8 particularly the way he lost the 10 frame on a respotted black having been well ahead in the frame and Trump making a great clearance to take it to a respotted black

Odd that 2 of the quarters finished quite swiftly, but the others have gone much longer.

12 all. Game on

Day Twelve: CRUCIBLE DRAMA REACHES FEVER PITCH AS LAST FOUR IS KNOWN

John Higgins is through to the semi finals after an epic victory over Judd Trump.
Opening frame of the morning. 89 from Trump. 6-3.
Higgins in first in the next with a 64, Trump counters with another 64. Respotted black. Chance for Higgins into the green pocket. Missed.
Black to middle for Trump..........IN. 7-3 Trump.
The Wizard of Wishaw under pressure - what had he got left?
65 break - 4-7.
61 break - 5-7.
53 and 56 breaks - 6-7.
Trump in first in frame 14, breaks down on a break of 53. Protracted safety battles.
Last one of which on the green. Trump leaves the Scot snookered.
Higgins not only escapes but flukes the green and clears up and it's 7-7.
Now it's Trump under pressure.
Chance for Higgins - breaks down.
Gets a second chance - no mistake this time and it's five frames in a row for 8-7.
Huge last frame of the session for both men. Trump holds his nerve to win it in bits and pieces. All square heading into the final session.
Into the evening then and Trump hits a 63 for 9-8 and clinches the next for 10-8.
Higgins replies to claw back to one behind.
Crunch frame 20, both players with chances but it goes to the black which Trump pots to lead 11-9. What has Higgins got left?
75 break - 10-11.
72 break - 11-11.
Unbelievable pressure century clearance and Higgins leads.
Over to you Mr Trump. Crucible pressure at it's most intense.
After both players get chances, Higgins takes on a long red to finish iiiiittttttttt..........NO. Trump in for a tough clearance with two reds on cushions.
WHAT............A..............BREAK. Clearance of 40 to pink and it's 12-12.
Match of the tournament heads into the decider.
Higgins with the first chance - break of 43.
Gets in again and that's it. Higgins wins an absolute classic to reach the last four in Sheffield.

Kyren Wilson avenged his Masters Final defeat to Mark Allen with a crushing 13-6 triumph to reach his maiden Crucible semi final.
Wilson who started the day 11-5 clear rattled in a 92 to go 7 up with 8 to play.
Although Allen took frame 18 it was a mere token frame and Wilson wrapped up victory in the next to seal the win.

Barry Hawkins saw out a comfortable 13-5 victory over Ding Junhui to reach yet another Crucible semi final. The Hawk took the first frame against a dispirited looking Ding and then closed out the contest in style with a superb 117 clearance to pink to book a semi final spot.

Mark Williams is through to the semi finals after securing a 13-8 win over Ali Carter.
Resuming at 4-4 it was Williams who hit his stride first to roll in an excellent break of 114 which was followed by a run of 54 to go 6-4 in front.
Carter replied with a fine 85 before four tight frames were shared to leave Williams 8-7 in the lead. The Welshman calmly slotted his second century of the afternoon to give himself a crucial 9-7 lead for the evening resumption.
First frame of the evening - 83 from the Welshman and it's 10-7 followed by a 51 for 11-7. Carter hits a break of 54 to claw one back but Williams counters with a brilliant 113 to go to within one of victory which he duly sealed in the next to book an intriguing last four clash with Barry Hawkins.


Semi Finals: (best of 33 frames) - seeds in brackets

Thursday 1pm start
John Higgins (5) v Kyren Wilson (9)

Thursday 7pm start
Barry Hawkins (6) v Mark Williams (7)

So glad Williams got shot of Captain Misery

Really impressed with Higgins, the recoveries from 7-3 and 11-9 down show what a fearsome battler he can be. Just hope he's not knackered (sometimes when there's a result like that, the next match starts with them flying, so Wilson might easily be 4-0 down at some point (such as the interval)).

I'd be happy with an all oldies final, but I suspect if Bore-kins beats Williams, he'd beat Wilson too.

I think when you think about we are either going to get a new winner of title or a multiple winner

I would be happy with any final from here as I like all the players left in.
Experience could be key now though I suspect. Time will tell.