German Masters snooker 2024 quarter-finals recap – Sam Craigie stuns Ali Carter after Judd Trump beats John Higgins
Updated 02/02/2024 at 21:11 GMT
German Masters snooker 2024 quarter-finals recap – Sam Craigie stuns last year's champion Ali Carter after Judd Trump beats John Higgins. Kyren Wilson also progresses with 5-0 rout of Fan Zhengyi. Stream top snooker action live on discovery+.
‘Scintillating at times’ - Trump wraps up win over Thepchaiya with third century
Join us again on Saturday
That's it for our live updates from the quarter finals at the 2024 German Masters.
Be sure to log on again tomorrow as the last-four action gets underway.
- Kyren Wilson v Si Jiahui
- Sam Craigie v Judd Trump
RESULT! - CARTER 1-5 CRAIGIE
There’s a safety impasse at the start of Frame 6 but it’s Craigie who takes charge, returning to the aggressive, attacking game-plan that served him so well pre-interval.
An absolutely gorgeous long red to bottom left opens his account and he keeps his nerve to guide a tricky black close to the bottom rail into the corner left pocket.
Red-black combos follow before a superb cannon off a black to the bottom left splits the pack and presents him with another big chance to get this match won.
This time he does not blink as he moves beyond frame ball with a 147 suddenly on his radar.
He overruns following a pot on a black and needs to use the rest to cut a tough red to the bottom left.
He pulls it off, but is then unfortunate to see another red flash into the opposite corner.
The maximum is gone and it clearly disrupts his flow as he misses soon after to end on a break of 89 – but it’s academic as the headline news is that he’s into his maiden ranking semi-final at this level at the expense of the 2023 champion!
TABLE 2 RESULT
WILSON 5-0 FAN
The World No.10 lives up to his billing as second favourite for the title with a resounding victory to surge into the last four.
CARTER 1-4 CRAIGIE
Ali produces a sublime cut to nick in a red that didn’t look on and suddenly he’s in the driving seat.
A touch off a red makes a pot to the bottom right very tricky and he needs to pull off a slow-paced recovery on a green down to middle left to regain position.
It’s plain-sailing from there as The Captain belatedly gets on the board with a 90 clearance up to the blue and leaves Craigie pondering what might have been.
CARTER 0-4 CRAIGIE (0-11)
There are so many reds available that Sam is spoilt for choice.
It seems to affect his focus as he catches a red near the lower right rail off a decent pot and it’s end of break unless he takes on a bold colour.
The World No.50 opts against it with the decision to play a tentative safety and that finish line has disappeared for now.
Will he live to regret blowing such a massive opportunity?
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‘What a fantastic shot!’ – Craigie makes ‘marvellous escape’ off four cushions
CARTER 0-4 CRAIGIE
Carter returns from the interval, but his game remains way below par.
He scatters the pack and leaves an open table for his opponent.
The whitewash is there for Sam, but can he can handle his nerves so close to the finish line.
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Craigie pots ‘incredible’ blue with contender for ‘shot of the week’
TABLE 2 UPDATE
WILSON 4-0 FAN
CARTER 0-4 CRAIGIE
Sadly for Ali, the answer is no.
He blows a make-able red to bottom right and once again it’s Craigie at the table.
He’s been supreme so far tonight but is rather fortunate that a simple black to bottom right somehow drops with the trajectory seeming to be way off at first.
It’s a mini lapse as he quickly finds his groove again. To be fair, it’s highly intelligent snooker as he happily takes the cue ball up to baulk, preying off the two reds there to reduce Carter’s hopes with simple pots that move him out of sight.
It's all about trying to make the century from there and he duly seals it with a 103 clearance that moves him to within one frame of reaching his first ever ranking event semi-final.
Carter's title defence is in deep trouble and he needs to be perfect after the interval if he's to stay alive in the tournament.
CARTER 0-3 CRAIGIE (0-28)
The Captain’s navigation system continues to malfunction as he blows another long pot and leaves the door ajar for Sam.
The World No.50 eases to a break of 22 but a cannon into the pack doesn’t go to plan.
He uses the extension and the rest, pondering a tough cut on a red to the bottom right before taking it on and planting it straight into the middle of the pocket.
He didn’t consider position but scorches a belter of a long blue up to the green pocket. It’s the shot of the match for power, risk and tough cueing.
He’s unfortunate not to land on the red up in baulk and has to take on another long red to bottom left.
It shudders against the jaws and stays out and Carter has some respite. Can he take advantage?
CARTER 0-3 CRAIGIE
Carter produces a pearl of a pot down the right rail to knock in that final red – but then disaster strikes!
He overcuts the black to the bottom left and it’s advantage Sam.
The World No.50 makes no mistake, finding the perfect angle on the yellow up to its home pocket before clearing up to the black.
The defending champion is in big trouble right now and needs a response asap!
CARTER 0-2 CRAIGIE (42-50)
Sam takes care of business, clearing up the free reds, but all-the-while knowing that a red glued to the right rail would be the make-or-break one.
He tries to screw back and prise it free, but can’t and has to pull off a brilliant cut on the penultimate red to the bottom left.
He takes on a tough blue to that same pocket to try and gain position down the right rail for that decisive red.
It’s a decent attempt, but the blue refuses the invitation to go down and there’s a chance for Carter!
CARTER 0-2 CRAIGIE (42-0)
Ouch!
The reigning champion looks to have found some semblance of his groove when he cuts a superb black to the bottom left with the cue ball in a nasty spec on the edge of the opposite bag.
It paves the way for a strong break of 42, but it suddenly goes pear-shaped when he overruns on a simple pot to bottom left. He uses the rest to try and deploy a safety, but cannons into the pack and then catches the middle left rim to leave the table open for his opponent.
TABLE 2 UPDATE
WILSON 2-0 FAN
CARTER 0-2 CRAIGIE
The stand-off ends when Sam leaves the final red hanging over the bottom left pocket.
Carter nicks it into the bag, but then needs to pull off an excellent cut on the black to the same pocket after failing to take care with his position.
It means he still only needs the one snooker and the World No.11 sets about laying another trap with the yellow behind the brown and the cue ball behind the black on the bottom rail.
It's a tough ask for Craigie, but once again he has the answer, coming off the left rail and baulk to smack the yellow 'full ball.'
Carter eventually has no alternative other than to pot the yellow close to its own pocket, but when he misses the green to the opposite corner, he hurriedly concedes.
What a start for Craigie, who gets just reward for some excellent escapes under pressure there.
CARTER 0-1 CRAIGIE (28-65)
Carter lays a succession of traps but Craigie keeps plotting the perfect escape, smiling with delight after one three-cushion recovery somehow helped him out of dodge without leaving that final red open to the pot.
CARTER 0-1 CRAIGIE (28-65)
Craigie is first to show following some surprisingly sloppy play from The Captain, who hasn’t quite found the flight path of choice so far tonight.
A fortunate kiss on a red up near baulk leaves him on a red to the green pocket but he loses control of the cue ball again and needs a super, long pot on a red to the yellow pocket to stay on course.
He takes on a blue to middle right that sees him slam into the pack and this attempted split does pay off.
The final red is close to the left rail up near the yellow pocket, but the World No.50 takes care of the rest of the pack to leave Ali needing a snooker.
The final red would pretty much do it but he can’t guide the long pot up that left rail home and Carter is still alive and jumps up to play an immediate snooker…
CARTER 0-1 CRAIGIE (28-0)
Both players fluff a half chance apiece before Carter gets up and running with a long red to the bottom right.
A pink to bottom left follows and he motors away until an attempted split of the pack goes badly awry.
There’s nothing on and he has to play in-behind the pink, now on the black spot, with the latter ball nestled amidst what is left of the pack.
TABLE 2 UPDATE
WILSON 1-0 FAN
Not a bad start for Kyren as he kicks off with a century break.
CARTER 0-1 CRAIGIE
It’s Craigie who makes his mark early doors with Neal Foulds on Eurosport Comms describing him as a ‘very dangerous opponent, ranking or not.'
For the record, Craigie is No.50 in the world at present, but he belies that ranking with some sharp potting, following up red-black-red with a blue to middle left that allows him to cannon into the pack. It's an attacking move and one that reaps real rewards.
He’s happy to make full use of the table throughout a steady-Eddie break as he slips a brown up to the yellow pocket before making his way south once more.
A plant on a red to bottom right had real risk but he clipped it down with aplomb and from there it was all about whether he’d keep Carter in his seat.
The answer is, yes, although a big miss on a blue halts his run on 71 and denies him what looked like being a century to open.
INTROS 'AUF DEUTSCH!'
Here we go then. We are down to the final two quarter finals and the four players are being given the big intro - or so they assume. Each player listens on to the German MC and it looks like they have no idea what is being said until their name is called. Cue a big grin and a stroll to the table.
Show time!
H2H
Carter leads the match-up 3-2 and won their most recent encounter 5-0 at the 2022 Turkish Masters.
They have faced off once before at the German Masters with Craigie winning 5-2 back in 2018.
GOOD EVENING
It’s time for some more snooks with reigning champion Ali Carter taking centre stage against Sam Craigie in the last of the two quarter finals at the 2024 German Masters.
On the other table Kyren Wilson locks horns with Fan Zhengyi. The boys are at the baize from 19.00 GMT.
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Thanks for joining us
Has been some afternoon. We will be back at 6:45pm this evening with the remaining two quarter-finals as Ali Carter continues his title defence against Sam Craigie and Kyren Wilson takes on Fan Zhengyi.
Latest odds
- Judd Trump 8/11
- Kyren Wilson 9/2
- Si Jiahui 6/1
- Ali Carter 13/2
Quarter-finals
Friday, February 2
13:00
- John Higgins 2-5 Judd Trump
- Ryan Day 1-5 Si Jiahui
19:00
- Ali Carter v Sam Craigie
- Kyren Wilson v Fan Zhengyi
Trump 4-2 Higgins (83-0)
A disappointing result for Higgins, but he has performed strongly. Trump on the top of his game this afternoon. 42 to finish for Judd. He is through to the semi-finals to meet defending champion Ali Carter or Sam Craigie on Saturday.
Trump 4-2 Higgins (62-0)
Well, Higgins has played really well today, but looks like he may be heading out here. That missed red in the sixth frame has been the key ball. Another brilliant plant on reds from distance by Trump sets him up for the killer blow surely.
Trump 4-2 Higgins (48-0)
Judd trying to pick reds off and refuses a couple of times to bust open the pack of reds. Reaches 48 in no time at all. Studies a tricky red to stay at table, but decides to hedge his bets by running safe. No reds are safe if Higgins can get in. Getting in is much more difficult. And Judd plays a brilliant safety behind yellow.
Trump 4-2 Higgins (14-0)
Higgins goes for a long red, but is inches away from seeing it drop. So, so close and the red sticks in the jaws. Well. Is that his final shot in this match? The way this match is going, could well be.
Trump 3-2 Higgins (94-19)
Trump arrives to mop up the balls for a 4-2 lead. Brutal miss on that red for Higgins to digest. Trump flukes the blue and a break of 74 sees him move one frame from the winning line.
Trump 3-2 Higgins (50-19)
But he misses a straight red among the balls. That is a hard one to take. Was bang in among them, but that one miss could be the turning point of this entire match. Higgins looks absolutely furious with himself. How did he miss that? What a gift for Judd. Looks like 4-2 coming up. These could all have been Higgins'.
Trump 3-2 Higgins (20-19)
Trump sends reds flying all over the show after missing a long red. Higgins responds by drilling home a double on a red. Excellent from Higgins, and suddenly he is back on the front foot in this sixth frame. This match delicately poised at moment.
Trump 3-2 Higgins (20-0)
Slight safety error by John and leaves Trump a cutback on a red. Which he slips home with ease. Nice nudge on yellow and can start off again in scoring mode in this sixth frame. But the positional shot in potting a plant on reds eludes him. Only 20 that time. So no mortal damage done by that effort.
Day 1-3 Si
The Crucible semi-finalist with breaks of 52, 96 and 72 for a 3-1 lead at the mid-session interval.
Trump 2-2 Higgins (74-53)
A brilliant counter clearance of 68 from Trump to leave Higgins needing one snooker. He plays a fine shot to tuck Trump up behind the black, but Trump escapes from the snooker to ensure there is no more late drama. And he rolls in the pink to seal the deal. It looked like 3-2 to Higgins, but instead Judd has the lead by the odd frame in five. Some match this one.
Trump 2-2 Higgins (33-53)
Trump floats in a stunning shot to nothing on a red. Gets a nice nudge off a middle jaw and lands on black too. Well, this could be a stunning counter punch from Trump. Every chance now with all three reds in the open. Higgins will be fearing the worst.
Trump 2-2 Higgins (0-53)
Large crowd inside the Tempodrom are warming to these players. Higgins is in great touch today. Just controlling that cue ball with so much ease. Knocks in green, but doesn't get the split on reds he was looking for. Break reaches 53. And he comes up with a fine safety to end his visit.
Trump 2-2 Higgins (0-15)
Brilliant shot by Higgins with a long red disappearing at pace. Connected with the shot wonderfully well. So first chance after the restart falls to the Wishaw man. Looks in fine touch here so far. Would dearly love to leave Judd sitting in his seat for the rest of this frame.
Day 1-1 Si
It is all square in the other quarter-final between Ryan Day and Si Jiahui.
Trump 1-2 Higgins (87-12)
78 break from Judd is finished off by him almost holing a ball off the table. Jumped on a side rail as he tried to hole it at pace to yellow pocket and raced down the table before spinning off. No matter. It is 2-2. Difficult to call this one.
Trump 1-2 Higgins (67-12)
Judd going through these balls like a hot knife through butter, and this contest is going to be all square at the interval. Little to split these two players, and 2-2 is about right at the break.
Trump 1-2 Higgins (37-12)
Higgins not really cashing in this time. Plunges the white into reds, land on nothing and can't tuck a tough red into the yellow pocket. Will be rueing that missed opportunity as Judd returns to the table. Every chance to build up a healthy lead of his own.
Trump 1-2 Higgins (9-6)
Both men have a pop at reds and narrowly miss. Don't drop before Trump comes up with a brilliant shot to leave Higgins behind green. Hits a red off two cushions the second time. But Trump floats in a lovely red to right centre in reponse. He then misses green from distance near the green pocket. Wasn't easy, but expected him to make that. Chance then for Higgins to revisit his scoring game.
Trump 1-1 Higgins (16-71)
Huge moment in the third frame as Judd plays a fine snooker with John stuck behind black in baulk, but he comes off side cushion. Catches the red perfectly and the object ball runs along the top cushion and into the pocket. Apology from John, but that has won him the frame. He moves clear in this quarter-final with a 2-1 advantage. Better being lucky than good. Or something like that. Really absorbing stuff between these two men.
Trump 1-1 Higgins (10-53)
A missed black by John trying to put pace into the shot. Doesn't look like he has left anything, but Judd picks out a plant of his own. Did he mean it? Doesn't really matter. Chance to launch the counter attack.
Trump 1-1 Higgins (0-33)
Black is tied up so John forced to do his work with the pink and blue at moment. Adds a bit more mileage to the cue ball. Chance for Higgins to build up a handy lead. And he clips in another superb red to left centre. Is getting right through that white ball so far today.
Trump 1-1 Higgins (0-5)
Judd eyeing up a plant on red, but opts against it and plays safe. Higgins is then interested and exectutes it to perfection from deep in baulk. What a lovely shot that is. And he is back out on the green here. Another chance for John to get moving again.
Trump 1-0 Higgins (1-91)
A lovely 83 break from John, and battle is joined at the Tempodrom. Two men with five world titles between them. Showing off all their class to this packed crowd in Berlin.
Trump 1-0 Higgins (1-75)
Higgins is dialled into this contest right from the start. Has that look of steely determination about him. Has not come here to be a passenger today.
Trump 1-0 Higgins (1-45)
Higgins with a stunning pot on bue to run the white in and out of baulk. Off two cushions and he opens up the reds. Quite clearly in the mood too today. A chance to respond in kind after sitting out that first frame to the 71 break by Trump.
Trump 1-0 Higgins (1-22)
Terrific long red by Judd, but he misses the black using the spider. Wasn't easy and shot goes all wrong. So another opportunity presents itself to John that he didn't expect. Chance to get hand on table and settle into this quarter-final.
Trump 1-0 Higgins (0-8)
Higgins with a brilliant red to left middle to gain access to the table, but so unfortunate as he tries to crack open the reds off the black. But pack sticks like concrete despite the best efforts of the master cueman.
Trump 0-0 Higgins (71-1)
A 71 break from Trump. That is a stunning break to get this match up and running. Higgins has seen enough. Missed a tough green, and didn't come back to the table. Trump leads 1-0 in the race to five.
Trump 0-0 Higgins (41-1)
This is a superb start by Trump to the afternoon. Looks in complete control of the cue ball out there. Picking up from where he left off last night against Un-Nooh. "Absolutely pristine," says former Masters champion Alan McManus about Trump's cue ball control in the commentary box. Looks like a one-hit visit to get us started today.
Trump 0-0 Higgins (4-1)
Both men having a pop at reds from distance, but nothing doing so far. Safety going to be a key aspect of this duel. Both players very handy at the strategic side of the sport. Higgins with a stunning red, but then misses a tricky green to the yellow bag. That could be costly.
Trump 0-0 Higgins (0-0)
What a great reception for both men out there. 16-14 to Trump on the career head-to-heads between the duo. Nothing much in this one. Ryan Day and Si Jiahui on the other main showpiece table this afternoon. Show be a thriller at the Tempodrom.
JOHN HIGGINS USES SPORTS PSYCHOLOGIST TO BOOST TITLE BID IN BERLIN
John Higgins produced a polished performance to beat Mark Allen 5-2 and book his place in the quarter-finals of the German Masters.
Higgins started in impressive fashion and despite Allen threatening a turnaround, the four-time world champion held firm to set up a meeting with Judd Trump, who later hit three centuries in a 5-2 win over Thepchaiya Un-Nooh. Read more here
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'Wonderful stuff' - Higgins makes a second century against Trump
Trump hits century trail in coasting through to last eight
A bit of classic Judd to get you in the mood for this quarter-final with John this afternoon. Could be a thrilling few hours ahead between these two giants of the green baize. Boys on baize at back of 1pm.
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‘Scintillating at times’ - Trump wraps up win over Thepchaiya with third century
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Last night... Trump makes three centuries in dominant win over Thepchaiya
Judd Trump produced a snooker masterclass to beat Thepchaiya Un-Nooh 5-2 to reach the quarter-finals of the German Masters, and in so doing he wrapped up the BetVictor Series bonus of £150,000.
Trump has been one of the form players of the season - albeit he had been in the shadow of Ronnie O’Sullivan either side of Christmas - and he delivered a stunning display at the Tempodrom in Berlin on Thursday.
The world No. 2 made three centuries and a break of 80 to dominate Thepchaiya and set up a clash with John Higgins in the last eight.
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