Today, in Berlin, the 2024 German Masters Final will be contested between Judd Trump and Si Jiahui. Most fans were expecting a Judd Trump v Kyren Wilson final but Si had other ideas … I reckon that many of us had forgotten how well he played at the Crucible last year… yesterday he reminded us how good he is when on song!
Chinese 21-year-old Si Jiahui reached the first ranking event final of his career, beating Kyren Wilson 6-3 in the last four of the BetVictor German Masters in Berlin.
The talented cueist showcased his considerable ability on the sport’s biggest stage last year, reaching the World Championship semi-finals. Si had looked set to appear in the final, before surrendering a 14-5 lead to lose 17-15 against eventual champion Luca Brecel.
This week Si has beaten Mark Joyce, Alfie Davies, Yuan Sijun, Ryan Day and now Wilson en route to his maiden title match. He will face either Judd Trump or Sam Craigie over the best of 19 frames tomorrow, with a top prize of £80,000 and the Brandon Parker Trophy on the line.
If Si wins, he will move into the top 16 on the one-year list and earn a place in the upcoming Players Championship, despite having missed out on qualification for the World Grand Prix.
Wilson was victorious here in Berlin back in 2019 and has enjoyed a fine record in Germany, having won three of his five ranking titles in the country. Despite scoring an impressive 5-0 whitewash win over Fan Zhengyi yesterday and looking good to beat Neil Robertson 5-3 in the last 16, he falls short of a place in the final.
A break of 97 gave Wilson the opener this afternoon, before he added the second to establish a 2-0 advantage. However, it was at that point Si embarked on a five-frame blitz to establish a stranglehold on proceedings. Breaks of 54, 138, 90 and 55 helped him to move one from the win at 5-2.
The pace of play altered significantly and Wilson claimed a 38-minute eighth frame to remain in contention. However, it was Si who won a 39-minute ninth to get himself over the line and into the final.
“You can say I’m quite simple minded, because I have not thought about making it to another semi-final much since the run at the Crucible last year. I just focus on each shot without thinking about how many tables are featured in the arena. If I play well, I will make progress and if I lose I will have no regrets. It doesn’t matter who I am playing, it’s not going to change my shot selections.”
Si Jiahui
2023 World Championship Semi-Finalist
Si added: “I feel like I’ve got used to this venue very well, so even at 2-0 down I didn’t feel much pressure. I just relaxed out there because I know Kyren is a top professional. My form picked up and I managed to stay in a good mindset to close it out.
“This match was very like the World Championship. The audience has been so passionate and it is a massive crowd. It made me concentrate more.”
Judd Trump is through to his fourth BetVictor German Masters final, after defeating Sam Craigie 6-2 at the Tempodrom in Berlin.
The Ace in the Pack will face Chinese 21-year-old star Si Jiahui in the title match on Sunday, with the Brandon Parker Trophy and a top prize of £80,000 on the line.
Trump is flying high this week, having already secured the £150,000 BetVictor Series bonus with an event to spare ahead of the BetVictor Welsh Open.
An incredible display of consistency, which saw him win the BetVictor English and Northern Ireland Opens, as well as being runner-up at the BetVictor European Masters, has seen Trump win the series for a record extending third time.
Craigie exits the event having reached a ranking semi-final for the first time in his career. The Wallsend cueman scored a landmark 5-1 win over defending Ali Carter in the last eight, but today’s result sees him fall short of the final.
The first two frames this evening were shared, before an hard fought third went the way of Trump, after Craigie crucially went in off on the green. The Bristolian then added the fourth frame to head in for the mid-session 3-1 in front.
When play resumed, Trump pressed home his advantage with a break of 68 to take the fifth. Craigie hit back with 71 in the sixth to make it 4-2. However, Trump made contributions of 75 and 79 in consecutive frames to get himself over the line and into the final.
“There are bigger money events out there, but here it is a feeling that money can’t buy when you walk out there in the semi-final stage. It is a tournament that I always enjoy coming to. I look forward to it and try to get to the latter stages and experience that one-table atmosphere. It lived up to the expectations.”
Judd Trump
2019 World Champion
Trump added: “It is strange for me playing someone that young (Si Jiahui). I’ve come full circle. I was playing John Higgins in the world final at that age. I’m the one to be shot at now. He is a tremendous talent. The way he plays the game is amazing for Chinese snooker. He is very attacking, goes for his shots and is exciting to watch.”
TRUMP PREVIEWS SI CLASH
It’s interesting that both finalist mention the atmosphere and the passion of the crowd. Si compared the atmosphere he experienced yesterday to the World Championship, where he had experienced the one table setup at the Crucible last season. Judd claimed that it gave him a feeling no money can buy. Neal Foulds had said, ahead of the tournament, that the Tempodrom is a very special venue, with a terrific atmosphere when there is just one table, and the only place he’s been to that could replace the Crucible… maybe … only maybe, the seed is planted that the Crucible – a rather inadequate venue by nowadays standard – is not irreplaceable.
Image shared by WST on their website.
As for today’s final … given his experience and CV, Judd Trump has to be favourite … but I will be “Team Si”
Ronnie O'Sullivan 
10-7 Trump.
I couldn’t be more team Si.
Team Si too!
Me too without doubt 😁