Semi Finals

So, as we approach Day 13 - the 4 remaining players head towards the one-table set up. This is unknown territory for K.Wilson, and his ability to adjust quickly to the one-table set up may be a significant factor. He was no more than workmanlike in beating M.Stevens and J.Jones, but he stepped up massively in beating M.Allen 13-6 in the QF. There was a spell in the second session where Wilson didn’t look like he could miss. He said afterwards he sensed Allen was tired, and he really put his foot down to effectively end the match in 2 sessions. His cue ball control towards the end of that session was as good as we’ve seen all tournament. So far, he has not really been tested but that looks about to change against a J.Higgins who showed just why he’s been at the top of the game for so long last night turning a 9-11 deficit into a 13-12 win against J.Trump. From 9-11 to 12-11 Higgins played almost flawless snooker, under huge pressure, and his joy in the interviews afterwards showed someone who is still relishing the challenge. He was kept under pressure all match by Trump, and it is possible he may struggle early on today to match the same level of intensity he had to show yesterday. Higgins beat Wilson comfortably when they met here in the QF last year 13-6, but a much closer contest looks on the cards this time around. The early 2/1+ Wilson on here has been snapped up, but he still looks a little overpriced at 9/5.

The other SF sees a very even looking contest between M.Williams and B.Hawkins. Williams has gone through the draw almost unnoticed, but that is primarily due to the ease of progress. He must be thinking that maybe this is his year given an unexpected resurgence in his form this season, which has seen him win 2 ranking events. He now uses the sightright method, so successfully employed by S.Bingham, and he looks a far more compact player than he did before. He has also benefitted hugely from defeats to N.Robertson and R.O’Sullivan in earlier rounds which has seen him play far easier opponents than he would have imagined. B.Hawkins stepped up a level, on what he has produced so far in beating a strangely subdued Ding 13-5 in his QF. Hawkins showed his irritation afterwards that he hasn’t been given the credit for a string of high class performances here, but his record speaks for itself, and nobody who follows the game under-estimates just how strong a match-player he is. That said, he has massively under-performed at the one table set-up, which has stemmed from a poor opening session in his 5 matches when there is only 1 table (he has trailed 2-6 on 3 occasions, and 3-5 on the other 2). This looks a very tight call between 2 evenly matched players, and I’m a bit surprised that Hawkins starts a 6/5 underdog. That said, it’s not quite big enough to warrant a bet given I have him outright.