Snooker news - David Gilbert ends Duane Jones' fairytale run to reach German Masters final

ByBen Grounds

Updated 02/02/2019 at 23:01 GMT

David Gilbert is through to the German Masters final after overcoming a first-frame setback to beat Duane Jones 6-1 at the Tempodrom in Berlin.

[Watch the German Masters LIVE on Eurosport Player]

The hard work has been paying off for the underdog Jones, who continued to produce his best snooker with a great opening red to get off the mark in winning the first frame.

Gilbert makes third world ranking final

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04/02/2019 at 09:02

Before the tournament, Jones had never made it beyond the last 32 and the 82nd seed may well have then been thinking of winning it, but a break of 70 allowed Gilbert to level in a drawn-out second.

The 18th seed overcame Mark Selby in a final-frame decider before storming back from 3-1 down to beat Neil Robertson 5-3 in the quarters - and he showed his powers of recovery to win the next two frames with breaks of 85 and 66.

David Gilbert is through to the German Masters final

Image credit: Getty Images

After a day of upsets on Friday, Gilbert began to show his class as he then produced the first century of the semi-final to extend his lead and another break of 52 put him within a frame of the win.

A missed long red allowed Jones the chance to close the gap, but he was unable to take advantage as a nervy pink closed out the victory for Gilbert. He told Eurosport:

I'm in shock really. It's such a special atmosphere and an amazing place to play. I've always wanted to get onto the middle table. You don't get that in Tamworth.

Gilbert salvages century break with exquisite double

"I've never played in a Masters and this is the closest I've got to it. We were nervous at the start so this is a big occasion for us. It wasn't the prettiest of snooker but it was all about getting six frames today."

Gilbert will face new tournament favourite Kyren Wilson in the final on Sunday with £80,000 at stake after the 27-year-old best Stephen Maguire 6-1.

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Wilson: 'Listen, I'm hard... a fighter!'

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03/02/2019 at 23:02

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Wilson fights back to beat Gilbert and take title

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