Masters 2024: Ali Carter defeats defending champion Judd Trump to advance to semifinals

Ali Carter defeated reigning champion Judd Trump 6-5 to reach the semi-finals of the Masters at Alexandra Palace.

It was a seesaw matchup, but Carter established a 4-2 advantage with three half-centuries and a 103 break.

Trump then battled back and shot a stunning 129, swinging off three consecutive frames to take a 5-4 lead.

But Carter made a nervous 10th frame with a brilliant clearance of 43 to equalize the score, and in the final he sealed victory with a brilliant run of 64.

Carter told BBC Sport: “You've got to try to hold on to special moments. To get a clearance like that in those conditions, in front of that crowd, it's priceless for me. That's true.''

“I paid this much money and thought I was going to win 5-3, but I lost my composure for a few frames.

“I've been working hard, but [I was] I was happy to make an unbelievable clearance and force the decider, but I don't know how I held my own after that. ”

Mark Allen and Mark Selby will meet in a rematch of their 2023 World Championship semi-finals late Friday (7pm AEST), with the winner set to face Carter in the last four on Saturday night.

Mr Trump, who is ranked second in the world, had joined the select quartet of Cliff Thorburn, Stephen Hendry, Paul Hunter and Ronnie O'Sullivan in hopes of winning the tournament back-to-back.

But unlike 12 months ago, when Trump also failed to produce his best snooker in the opening two games, this time he paid his dues against an opponent who had not appeared in the Masters until his appearance in this match, his first since reaching the final in 2020. paid.

Despite scoring an 80 to win the second frame, Trump showed clinical signs of not being at his best from the start, and both players made uncharacteristic mistakes, but Carter's scoring was much higher throughout. It was slightly better.

Mr. Trump only had a century in the contest, plus an incredible fluke in the eighth frame — he missed the pot on the green, but missed Carter's drop of the pot into the top left corner at brown. When he managed to dodge it, he took the lead and took control for the first time in the match, when he seemed to scare his opponent into giving him a hand.

However, Trump will regret missing two chances in the 10th frame. That's when he lost his position and overcut the red into the left corner. Carter would then call for snooker to save the match.

“He played well, but I had a hard time,” Trump said.

“He really shouldn't have had that chance.” [in the 10th frame], which was terrible for me. “Obviously I'm disappointed because we had two perfect chances to win the game, but he deserved to win.”