Credit: Andy Chubb
Ali Carter edged out Robert Milkins 6-5 in a pulsating semi-final encounter to reach the final of the BetVictor German Masters for the third time at Berlin’s iconic Tempodrom.
The Captain is hunting his first ranking silverware for almost seven years, with his most recent victory coming at the 2016 World Open. In all, he has four ranking titles to his name. Carter won the German Masters in 2013, when he beat Marco Fu in the final and he was runner-up to Anthony Hamilton in 2017.
Carter now faces either Jack Lisowski or Tom Ford in tomorrow’s final, where the Brandon Parker Trophy and a top prize of £80,000 will be up for grabs. The title match will be contested over the best of 17 frames.
It’s been a timely run this week for Carter, who has pushed himself comfortably inside top 16 on the one-year list. That puts him in position to qualify for the Players Championship, with just the BetVictor Welsh Open to go before the seeding cut off.
Defeat ends what has been a remarkable week for Milkins. He made a 147 break in yesterday evening’s quarter-final win over Chris Wakelin, having already made a 146 earlier in the week. That places Milkins in line for the £5,000 high break prize.
It was Milkins who started strongest this afternoon. The first two frames were shared, before the Gloucester cueman claimed a fiercely contested 32-minute tactical battle in the third to lead 2-1. He then clinched the fourth on the black to head into the mid-session with a 3-1 advantage.
When play resumed a break building blitz from Carter turned the match on its head. Runs of 72, 67, 133, and 83 saw him take four on the bounce and move one from the win at 5-3.
However, Milkins refused to wilt and kept himself alive with a century break of 109, before taking the tenth to force a decider at 5-5. It was a nervy final frame, but Carter amassed enough points across three separate breaks to get over the line and book his place in tomorrow’s final.
“It’s massive. There was so much riding on that game, possibly the Players Championship, winning another title and just everything. I’ve had a good week and I was disappointed with how I went out in the first half of the match. I played really well to go 5-3 up and didn’t do much wrong to go 5-5. It was nip and tuck in the final frame. It is an amazing arena out there and an amazing event. I am delighted to be in my third final,” said 43-year-old Carter.
“There are millions of thoughts that go through your head during a decider. You just have to try and keep your mind quiet. I just kept saying to myself that if I get a chance I am going to have to be peeled off the table. I wasn’t going to go until all of the balls were in the pocket. It was a massive win and I am pleased to be the victor today.
“It would mean everything to win tomorrow. It is all about winning. I am obviously delighted to get to the final but if I didn’t come out on top, I would be devastated. For the top boys like myself who have won before, coming second isn’t good enough. We come here to win tournaments, it doesn’t happen very often. You have to take it when it is your turn and I hope that tomorrow it is my turn.”
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