Ali Carter prevailed 10-8 in a fiercely contested semi-final with Mark Selby to make the Shanghai Masters final for the second time in his career.
The Captain now progresses to face either World Champion Zhao Xintong or world number two Kyren Wilson in Sunday’s final, where a top prize of £210,000 will be up for grabs.
Six-time ranking event winner Carter has enjoyed some of the most consistent form of his career over the last two years. During that timespan, the 46-year-old made finals at the 2023 Players Championship, 2023 Wuhan Open and the 2024 Masters, as well as winning the 2023 German Masters and the 2024 Championship League.
Carter claimed the second of his six ranking crowns here in Shanghai back in 2010, when he defeated Selby in the last four before beating Jamie Burnett 10-7 in the final.
He’s had to summon all of his battling abilities this week, having come from 5-2 down to beat both Mark Williams and Xiao Guodong 6-5 in previous rounds and having trailed Selby 8-6 this evening.
Selby can take solace from what has been a very promising start to his season. The four-time World Champion soared to a 6-0 win over Shaun Murphy in his first match and beat world number one Judd Trump 6-4. He now turns his attention to the upcoming Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters.
They came into the evening with Carter holding a 5-4 lead, but it was Selby who hit the ground running with breaks of 108 and 81 to wrest a 6-5 advantage of his own.
Carter replied with 129 in the 12th, but a run of 96 saw Selby head into the mid-session leading 7-6.
A break of 62 then moved Selby 8-6 ahead and he looked to be moving to the verge of victory before spurning a crucial blue in the 15th. Carter pounced with 66 to steal and move within one at 8-7.
The Essex cueman could smell blood and breaks of 83, 62 and 79 in consecutive frames saw him make it four on the bounce and seal a huge 10-8 victory.
Carter said: “I was just out there competing. At 8-6 down he missed a blue and it gave me a glimmer of hope. It was very pleasing to get over the line with a one visit. I’ve been 5-2 down twice and 8-6 here. I’ve been looking to go home and move my flight forward. It is as simple as that. You can have all of the positive things said to you, think this and think that, but the secret is to not think anything. I shouldn’t be here now really. If Mark Allen hadn’t withdrawn, I hope he is alright, then I wouldn’t be.
“I love Shanghai, I love the city and I love the tournament. I won it back in 2010 and it would be great to try and win it on Sunday. Whether it is Kyren Wilson, who is growing in confidence, or the current World Champion and everyone’s favourite in China Zhao Xintong. I’m a wily old fox and I’ll just see if I can turn up and upset the apple cart.“
Life came in the way of snooker in the form of two visitors, my daughter and my grandson. I didn’t see a ball, so can’t comment, and it may well be the same today.
It’s not the result I hoped for but you you can’t blame someone for doing what they have to do , so … well played Ali.
I’m pretty neutral about today’s match. I love both players. Whoever wins today, I hope they will lift the trophy tomorrow.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 