The
two Betfair German Masters semi-finals yesterday weren’t exactly classics but
Ali Carter and Marco Fu need not care because they will contest the final
today.
The
Tempodrom was packed but the standard was not as consistently high as the vast crowd were
hoping. Then again, semi-finals are often tense, edgy affairs with a big prize
of a final place in sight.
The
big surprise for me was how poorly Neil Robertson played. In full flight he is
an intimidating presence at the table but his positional play let him down
and he seemed to go flat.
Carter
won with a highest break of just 46. However, he did pot several crunch balls,
including a doubled red to lead 5-1.
He
was joined in the final last night by Fu, who beat Barry Hawkins 6-4 in a match
in which the general pace of play better suited the Hong Kong cueist, although towards the end he started to score really heavily.
Carter
has won two ranking titles, the 2009 Welsh Open and 2010 Shanghai Masters. He has twice been runner-up in the World Championship and was a semi-finalist in
the UK Championship two months ago.
He
can be a feisty competitor, a player who frequently shows his emotions and in
this way the polar opposite of Fu, who invariably keeps them hidden.
Fu’s
only ranking title to date is the 2007 Grand Prix but he has since been
runner-up in the UK Championship and the Masters.
Fu
recently became a father and is hoping to build on personal contentment by
hitting another professional high.
He
has been let down over the years by inconsistency of performance, which is hard
to explain and, I suspect, hard for him to understand.
Let’s
hope the final is of a high standard. The audience here in Berlin deserve it
because they have played as much a part in making the event a success as the
players themselves.
10 comments:
It was a shame that both yesterdays semi finals were a but flat.
More evidence the top players are playing too much snooker.
Wacky idea number 147
After a frame has clocked up 30 minutes, a clock shot of 20 seconds should kick in.
After a frame has clocked up 30 minutes, a clock shot of 20 seconds should kick in.
11:07 am
Great idea. 2 times extensions at most permitted.
I suspect the rule will be called the Ebdon rule.
High time the underachiever Marco Fu shows us what he is made of.
Infuriatingly inconsistent player. Has the talent but can disappear at times. A bit like Arsenal FC.
13:16 Why isnt the final on the Eurosport player right now?
A generation ago a match where a player makes 2 centuries including a 142 would be considered a contender for performance of the season. Nowadays, its considered a ho hum affair...facinating evolution of not how the game's standard has improved but more to fans and pundits' expectation on performances.
On a related note if Carter continues his century break dry spell and wins today...has that ever occur previously in modern times? Has any player won a ranker without making a century?
Hard to understand the critic of Fu - Hawkins yesterday, very hard fought frames for 90 min. 2-0
for the Hawk, Fu ups and turn the match with 142 and 110 but still fight to the line.
Stats was 93-89 for efficiency.
Fu,s safety 89 % and I think one long pot missed total in the match.
My money was on Hawkins but I still enjoyed it and so did the audience that gave a standing ovation for the winner.
Said it before and don't mind saying it again....pockets are massive !!
Maybe someone could tell Mike 'my apologies' Hallett that there are no prizes for correctly anticipating how the next shot will be played.
How do you know 923? Maybe Dave's wallet is a little bit lighter today?
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