The semi-finals today in Nuremberg will see Judd Trump face John Higgins and Mark Selby do battle with Barry Hawkins. Here is how yesterday on the baize unfolded as reported by WST.
In the firs session of the day Barry Hawkins got the better of Luca Brecel …
Hawk Downs Belgian Bullet
Barry Hawkins inflicted Luca Brecel’s first defeat as World Champion, coming through a deciding frame to win 5-4 in their last 16 clash at the BetVictor European Masters in Nuremberg.
Defeat for Brecel ends his ambitions of emerging from this event as world number one. The 28-year-old had to make the semi-finals to leapfrog Ronnie O’Sullivan, but ended up falling two hurdles short.
Hawkins is seeking a first ranking title in six years, having last lifted silverware at the World Grand Prix back in 2017. Next up he faces a quarter-final clash with Thailand’s Noppon Saengkham this evening, who edged out former European Masters winner Jimmy Robertson 5-4.
Leading 2-1, Hawkins composed a fine break of 70 to head into the mid-session interval with a commanding 3-1 advantage this afternoon. However, when play resumed, Brecel responded by taking the fifth and sixth frames to restore parity at 3-3. The Crucible king then made it three on the bounce to move just a frame from victory at 4-3.
Hawkins showed his class with a stunning 133 to force a decider, where both players spurned opportunities for victory. Eventually the Londoner got himself over the line and wrapped up a 5-4 win.
Defeat left Brecel disappointed to miss out on the world number one spot. However, that blow was softened after finding out the cue he won the World Championship had been found, after it was lost on a recent flight from Seattle to Frankfurt.
“Missing world number one and the chance to get a trophy was quite disappointing. I think it would have been quite gettable. It wasn’t to be,” said four-time ranking event winner Brecel.
“It was surprising that after ten days I have got my cue back. It is going to be delivered to my home. That is good news. With this cue it is no fun, it would have been a horrible season for me so I’m glad I’ve got the old one back.”
Mark Selby secured his place in the last eight with a 5-2 win over Ashley Hugill. The four-time World Champion composed breaks of 69, 84, 60,103 and 68 on his way to the win. He now plays China’s Lyu Haotian, who thrashed David Gilbert 5-1.
The second session saw Judd Tump and John Higgins progress to the SF stage
Trump Sets Up Higgins Showdown
Judd Trump saw off Ashley Carty 5-1 to make the semi-finals of the BetVictor European Masters in Nuremberg, where he will face a blockbuster clash with John Higgins tomorrow.
The Ace in the Pack is aiming to secure a first piece of ranking silverware in over a year if he can claim the title this weekend, with his last ranking win coming at the 2022 Turkish Masters.
Trump has enjoyed fantastic success against tomorrow’s opponent Higgins in recent times. He has won seven of their last eight meetings, dating back to his victory in the 2019 World Championship final. However, Higgins did get the better of their most recent encounter at the Hong Kong Masters last season.
Defeat for Carty draws the best week of his career so far to a close. The Rotherham cueman regained professional status last season by winning the Q Tour Playoffs. His run here in Nuremberg has seen him make the quarter-finals of a professional event for the first time in his career.
Breaks of 68 and 113 helped Trump secure victory this afternoon. He is eagerly looking forward to what is set to be a showpiece meeting with Higgins tomorrow.
“It is always an incredible occasion against him and always a game I cherish. We played each other a couple of weeks ago in China and it is something I always get up for. The games always seem to be pretty close. Whoever plays their best snooker normally comes out on top and it is always a great standard. Some of the best games I’ve ever been involved with have been against him and probably some of the best of all time. I think he enjoys me and I enjoy playing him,” said 34-year-old Trump.
“Something that I have learned from being a professional for so long is that you feel you have a lot of time and a lot of tournaments, but you really haven’t. If you lose your first couple of games then nine times out of ten it will dictate the whole season. Often it is the other way round and you have a good season if you get a good start. So much is down to the first couple of events and getting that confidence early on. It is nice to get off to a good start.”
Higgins secured his passage through thanks to a narrow 5-3 defeat of defending champion Kyren Wilson. The Wizard of Wishaw has now won all of the last four meetings between the pair.
Despite losing the opener, Scotland’s four-time World Champion Higgins composed breaks of 105, 74 and 52 as he took the next three frames to lead 3-1 at the mid-session.
When play resumed Wilson clawed his way back into contention to trail by one at 4-3, but Higgins closed out the tie in style with 118 to run out a 5-3 victor.
And the evening session saw Mark Selby and Berry Hawkins complete the SF field
Selby And Hawkins To Meet In Semis
Mark Selby and Barry Hawkins will have to put their friendship to one side when they meet in tomorrow’s BetVictor European Masters semi-finals, after the pair secured respective last eight victories in Nuremberg.
Selby booked his place in the semis with a 5-2 win over China’s Lyu Haotian. Today’s victory sees him reach the 60th ranking event semi-final of his career.
The four-time World Champion is gunning for a second European Masters crown. He took home the trophy back in 2020, when he edged out Martin Gould 9-8 in the final.
It was Lyu who took a hard fought 30-minute opening frame this evening, before Selby replied with a century run of 106 to restore parity at 1-1. The Leicester cueman then added a further two on the bounce to head into the mid-session interval 3-1 in front.
When play resumed a break of 64 helped 25-year-old Lyu claw back within a frame at 3-2. He then looked set to draw level when leading 65-8 in the sixth. A break of 51 saw 22-time ranking event winner Selby take the frame down to the black, where a safety battle ensued. Eventually Selby deposited the black to the green corner and moved one from the win. He then got over the line with a break of 74 in the seventh to clinch a semi-final berth.
“Barry is one of my best mates on the tour so it is great he is in the semi-finals as well. The positive out of the match is one of us will be in the final. We will both be trying to beat each other out there, but hopefully it is a good game and we both put on a good performance,” said 40-year-old Selby.
“Once you are out there you have a job to do. He will be thinking the same as well. We have been going out for food every day this week. I’ll probably eat on my own tomorrow!
“I always say to win one tournament in a season, where the standard is now, you have to class that as a good season. If you can get it out of the way early doors then it would be great, you can relax for the rest of the season at that point.”
Hawkins earned his semi-final spot with a 5-2 defeat of Thailand’s Noppon Saengkham. The Londoner fired in breaks of 89, 52, 70 and 70 on his way to victory this evening in an impressive performance, having already beaten World Champion Luca Brecel 5-4 earlier in the day.
The Hawk is aiming to land silverware for the first time in six years this weekend. He last won a ranking title all the way back at the 2017 World Grand Prix. Since then he has been to four finals without getting over the line, including last year at the European Masters when he came up short against Kyren Wilson.
WST shared some images on Twitter (yeah I know it’s X now … how stupid!)
So then, as we arrive at the SF stage all players remaining on course are in the top 16, except for the Hawk and we all know that somehow his current ranking (19) is not a true reflection of his actual strength.
In other Snooker News …
The first Q-Tour event of the season started yesterday. You can follow the event here.
There are many former pros in the draw. It’s a shame those events are not streamed.
Someone who isn’t there despite being eligible is Bai Yulu … she has been sent to Russia to represent her country in a tournament featuring the BRIC nations (Russia, Brazil, India and China… a very democratic club is BRIC).
The event started with a group stage and has now reached the knock-out stage. Bai won all her group matches.
The following images were shared by Bai Yulu on weibbo:
It seems that no matter what there will be a Russian finalist… pure luck of the draw surely 😇.
Also this podcast is worth listening to … it explains how the enquiry ending in 10 Chinese players being banned started and unfolded. Reminds me… any news about Mark King?
Ronnie O'Sullivan 
To Russia? Really disappointing. And waste of talent. 😡😭
She probably had no choice
I don’t blame her. Just find the situation very sad and appalling. 😥
I agree. Missing the first Q-Tour event could cost her dear: she needs to play in those events to boost her chances to get on the main tour and to gain experience.
Aw…… seeing the draw(in fact not even seeing it), feeling Bai has no benefit playing such event.
She almost certainly didn’t have a say in the decision to send her there
We don’t know that, and shouldn’t make assumptions. She is not a child. Anyway, she played brilliantly today, beating Deng Haohui 3-1 with a break of 101 in the 3rd frame (missing the last red). Any Russians watching that would be in no doubt that women can play snooker. Indeed, there were several Russian women in the draw, and one of them did quite well.
Ivan Kakovskii is a fine player. It will be a tough test for her to beat him in the final, with a referee who looks just like Vladimir Putin!
No she’s not a child but IF the CBSA thought she must go, is she free to say no without consequences? I admit it, I made assumptions, based on the fact that she competed in the UK Q-School and therefore surely is trying to get on the main tour. Her efforts in the Q-School earned her a spot in the Q-Tour but, because she plays in the BRIC event she can’t go to the Q-Tour event 1. If it’s her choice to go to Russia… I don’t understand the underlying reasoning.
Any young player would take whatever opportunities they could. An invitation to play in a winnable tournament, all expenses paid, is an excellent opportunity. Travelling to the UK, perhaps to play only one match, at own expense, may not be as attractive. I agree that it helps to play in the strongest events available. But it’s also necessary for someone like Bai Yulu to be winning matches and hopefully tournaments. She came to the UK in May to play in the Women’s British Open, and stayed on for the two Q School events: 12 matches in one trip. She will get onto the main tour before long, and at that point she will be forced to move to Sheffield. Before that, she’s got to negotiate all kinds of logistics, including cost and VISA applications. It’s quite possible that Russia was the best option available.