European Masters: Kyren Wilson wins nervy decider against Ali Carter to reach final at Stadthalle Furth

Updated 20/08/2022 at 16:49 GMT

Kyren Wilson is on course to challenge for a fifth career ranking title as he reached the final of the European Masters. The Englishman was ahead for much of the match but allowed Ali Carter back into it as The Captain recovered to go 5-4 clear. However Wilson held his nerves and took the final two frames for victory. Wilson awaits the winner of Barry Hawkins and Mark Williams in the final.

Carter hits stellar century to draw level with Wilson at interval

Kyren Wilson edged a competitive semi-final against Ali Carter 6-5 at the European Masters on Saturday afternoon.

The first frame could have gone either way, but Carter took full advantage of Wilson’s miss on a mid-range red at 33-62 down, sweeping up the remaining colours and keeping his nerve to pot a tricky black with a classy break of 34.

The second frame went to the wire as well. After taking the initiative, Carter looked odds-on to add to his lead but overcut a yellow on 35. Wilson then came unstuck after a spirited break of 60.

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And after Carter made a superb clearance, the black was re-spotted with Wilson winning the toss and putting Carter into bat, who played a nice safety shot. However, after missing a double, Wilson would finally take the frame with a superb shot off three cushions.

The third and fourth frames were much quicker, straightforward affairs. With new-found confidence, Wilson strung together a break of 71. Carter responded with 24 before The Warrior picked out the red he needed to make it 2-1.

But Carter battled back with an inspired century break to ensure the match was level at the mid-session interval.

Wilson then started to edge closer to victory with an unanswered break of 87 taking him a frame clear, before another re-spotted black in the sixth frame saw him take it 63-56.

The Englishman continued his good momentum as he opened up the reds and look set up to clear the bulk of the table, but a wayward cut on the red into the left corner left him wincing in his chair before Carter came to the table. A break of 73 left Carter trailing 4-3.

A nice effort from Carter then left him 69-0 up but Wilson came to the table with hope but, after a brief safety exchange, Carter left his opponent snug behind a blue, forcing him to concede.

That was followed by a miss with the rest from Wilson to let Carter back into the match, taking the lead for the first time since the opening frame, before Wilson then hit back with a superb 75.

In the decider, Wilson got the first points on the board, and at 54-0 up he retreated into safety play, and was able to get over the line to put him through to the final for a chance to win his fifth ranking event.

Barry Hawkins plays Mark Williams on Saturday night in the tournament’s second semi-final.

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