2008 888.com World Championship

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Ladder - QUALIFYING RESULTS  - CRUCIBLE RESULTS  - INFORMATION - MATCH NOTES - PLAYER CUEFACTS

GALLERIES: No. 1 Preliminary Rounds - No. 2 Qualifying Rounds

ALI CARTER

v

JOE PERRY

Semi Final 2

(Best of 33 frames)

Thursday 1 May 19.00

Friday 2 May 14.30

Saturday 3 May 10.00

Saturday 3 May 19.00

 

Match Notes

Good evening, welcome to the second semi final, featuring two semi final debutants...

Ali Carter smoothly strokes in a long red with his first shot, but no position... Joe returns the favour, potting his first attempt and he's got a scoring chance and he's going very well so far, made 46, not in good position though now, he's retrieved the situation okay, now on 54 and well set to win the frame, wrong, he misses the next red... Carter leaves a hard red over the pocket, but he's obscured it for Joe, with the yellow, no problem, he fires in another long red... and clears with 56, what a great start... Ali picks out a clever double to start frame two, but no position for him from that... the safety has scattered the reds all over the table and there's one over the centre for Perry... he'll need GPS to find his way through this lot... he's proving to be a good navigator so far, on to 40 now, but still having to travel all round the table to find reds... but just as he gets within reach of the frame, he misses a red, 48 on the board for Joe, a long red faces Carter, he's got it and made 23, played safe on the last two reds, trailing by 24... Joe's got Ali in a hard snooker, he's hit it and is lucky to see it catch the jaw but run safe... and he's snookered Joe from that... Joe still has a 19 point lead on this last red... Perry gets the red, he's 27 up on the yellow... and that's the second frame in the bag... Ali still looks a bit nervous, he's mis hit that safety and given Joe a chance in frame three... and he's made Ali pay, on 61 now, 70 ahead and going 3-0 up.. that doesn't help Ali's cause as Joe flukes the opening red in frame four, hits one jaw and goes in the opposite top pocket, now where have I seen that before! a poor shot from Joe loses him position, so a let-off for Ali... not much of a let off, a little flick off the green and Ali is snookered behind the brown... Joe's attempted a long red which misses by a fair margin, Ali finds a good red with the rest, can his get him started? not really, he can't get position, these reds are tending to cover each other a bit... Ali's got a cracking red to create another opening, he's making a bit of progress at this visit, onto 21..., he's up to 49 now, 47 ahead, needs one more of the last three reds.. he chooses safety, the last three reds are in a mini triangle near the side cushion... Carter rattled the red, Perry pots it... he's missed the red that Carter chose not to play and there's a red on for Ali... he's missed it... Joe misses his colour off the red and concedes, so Carter will feel a bit better at the interval, having won a frame... Four more frames to play as they resume, Ali is going well in this frame, 30-16 ahead and he's broken the reds open... the break moves up to 54... 63-16 ahead, needs one more red... he can't get on it, the break ends at 70 with Ali 54 ahead, but 59 still on... Joe's worked his way back into the frame, narrowly fails to develop the last red off the cushion, so Ali's lead is reduced, 32, on the last red... Ali gets the red, so he's only 1 behind now at 3-2... Perry leaves a safety shot short and Carter has a red... he's only made 8 there and run out of position... Joe wins the safety and has made 30 at this visit and is in great position, via the scenic route... and onto 61, the frame is safe, can he make a century here, no, but a good 84 that takes him 4-2 ahead... Bizarre start to frame seven, Carter thunders a fabulous long red in but also flukes another red in the middle at the same time, he's then unlucky to get a kick on his safety which has left a red for Perry... and Joe's rattled up to 58 already and now the frame is safe, that ensure Joe an overnight lead... One more frame to play tonight and Carter would dearly love to win it, he's started well with a good long red... and he's got the reds open, moved 42 ahead and then misses the blue to the middle, now he's left everything on for Joe... no problem until he got to 25, then he's pushed the ball wide of the pocket and Ali breaths again and has a red on... and with one red left, Joe needs a snooker... Ali punches in the last red and that means he's trail 5-3 overnight.

Good afternoon, welcome to the second session of this semi final.. Carter gets the scoring started, a nice long red and good position on the pink... he's moved on to 24 but needs a good shot now to nudge a few more reds into play... he's stuck on a red there so the break ends at 41... Perry has thundered in a great long red, so he's got a chance to get back into the frame here.. that red along the rail refuses to drop, Joe's break ends at 29, he's not left Carter on any of the last three reds... Ali leads 41-29... Ali's got one of the red, played a poor safety and Joe's got him a bit of trouble... Another cracking long red from Perry... but he fails to get position, Ali has a 7 point lead on the yellow and it's on for him... and Carter clears up... Perry pots a distant red but misses the long blue, a red left on for Ali... who misses it... it's going to be a re-rack, with a red in the jaws they could have played into the pack all day... Joe gets the first chance this time... he's cruised on to 57 and then missed the black off its spot... Carter's on the green, needs all the colours.. he's missed the pink... so has Joe... they're still on the the pinks, a few oohs and aahs but nobodies potted it yet... eventually Carters gets it and adds black for the frame and levels the match.. Carter's unlucky there, split the pack off the blue and knocked a red in... but he's looking a lot more settled today ... Perry flukes a red off his safety shot, not on a colour... Ali drops a red dead weight along the top cushion and he's moved nicely to 38 now... well until he over cut the next red... Joe is struggling a bit at the moment and he's left a red for Ali... and now he's gone 64-14 ahead, two reds left and he'll take the lead for the first time in the match... a good opening red by Perry but he's landed awkward and not on a colour... Carter rolls in a red and has got into good position, onto 29... and that red was the one he needed, another frame for Carter and he'll enjoy their mid-session interval now and he rounds off in style with 106... Cater picks up where he left of before the interval... onto a run of 22... up to 41, a couple of loose reds and three more tucked up round the pink... the break reaches 56, 5 reds left, a possibly 67, only 4 reds left, Perry needs a snooker... if he wins this frame it will be a run of Essex 13 frames, other players 0... break ends at 64, Joe needs two snookers... all four reds are safe at the moment... it doesn't help Perry much that they're all in baulk... Academic now as Carter thumps in a red to stretch his lead.. Quite a lengthy safety exchange to start frame fourteen... Perry needs to find something to stop Carter's run of frames, he's now won the last six frames... and here's a chance for him... 16 so far, he wobbled that red which has thrown him slightly out of position... he's missed on 23 and left the red over the pocket... Carter has replied with 37 and still on reds... he's failed at 51, over cut the black, Ali is 28 up with three reds left, one of which Perry pots... he doesn't get on a colour... an error by Carter, he's left a free ball for Joe... Perry's got the last red, he's 59-35 down, needs a colour to good position onto the yellow... he is on the yellow, but a fair distance away... good pot, he needs all the colours... he's missed the green trying to force an angle... so Carter leads by twenty on the green... Perry's produced some great pots, especially pink to black to clear the frame and stop the rot... That's put a spring back in Perry's step and he's on a break in the next frame, looking far more confident, only 14 so far... he's going great so far, onto 44 and has opened more reds up off that black... and down goes the frame ball red... onto 93, the century is in sight... a great cheer greets the 100, Perry's 5th at this event... Ali's not going to let his lead disappear completely without a fight, he's created the first chance in the last frame of the afternoon, moved onto 20 and if he can keep taking a red then he'll free more up... and he's moved on to 44 now and is in great shape to win the frame here... he's done enough to clinch the frame, 72 now and Carter will lead 9-7 overnight, having started 5-3 down, a good session for Ali... and he's finished in style with a century, his second this afternoon and one from each player to end the session, a 128 total clearance, good stuff...

Good morning, welcome back to the third, of a possible four sessions... a couple of chances have gone astray, Perry leads 30-8 at the moment... Perry's got his third scoring chance now and can add to his early lead... he's working off low value colours but is now 44 up with 51 on, one red needed.. he's got it and should reduce his deficit to one frame now and he has... Perry finds the first red in frame eighteen... he only makes 22, but after forcing fouls from Ali he's got another chance and leads 59-0, and this 50 break levels the scores... Joe's spotted a plant and that's opened the reds up nicely for him.. but he's only made 10 and lost position... a good long red earns Perry another scoring chance... he's made 43 so far and leads 53-1, onto 58 and that clinches the frame, great stat for Joe, he's won all three frames this morning... Carter can't get going this morning, that's an easy red he's missed... Joe lets him off this time... After a lengthy tactical exchange Perry has created a chance... he makes 31, but can't get round the table from the wrong side of the blue to get on another red... Carter pots a long red but follows in with the white, it's not going right for him this morning... Ali gets a chance, but he's missed that by a long way, only made 15 and left Joe an easy opener... Perry moves his lead along to 48-15, three reds left, and Joe's won that safety battle, he's got a red to centre and that should win the frame... so he's won all four frames as they go to the interval and he's two frames ahead now at 11-9... Carter finds a plant as the match resumes... and he's laid a snooker which has Perry in some bother... and that earns Ali a red, but no position so he's rolled up tight behind the yellow... and he's the same again, pot a red, lay a snooker... and Perry's escape yields a chance for Carter... and at last he's making a substantial contribution, onto 41, a 55 point lead... and now he's clinched the frame...  a mis-hit safety shot by Ali gave Perry a change but he can't get into a good position, so forced to play safe, having made only 12... Perry gets the next chance, has to play from the blue as both black and pink are near the side cushion... nicely onto 52, four reds left and the next red seals the frame and a 12-10 lead... Carter's had two chance now in frame 23, this time he's left a red on... Joe runs out of position, having made 22, both players have wasted chances in this frame... Perry adds another 27 but lets that red pass the pocket by, he leads 47-10 in the frame with 4 reds left... Perry misses the red that would have won the frame, still 45 ahead with 51 on... Carter mounts a comeback, but this frame is all about the last red, on the side rail, he can't get on it, tries a double and gets away with it, Perry is 30 ahead with 35 on.. Carter slams in a great last red, he's on the yellow, needs all the colours, and he's got them and that was a big frame to win. Perry nearly had it won when he missed an easy red.. onto the last frame of the morning, can Carter complete his recovery after a terrible start today? He's thumped in a death or glory red, got the glory and moved onto 20... break ends at 27 with a good safety shot... Carter moves on now, he's 46 ahead and has more reds waiting... his break reaches 40, the lead 68, and that's the frame, what a turnaround, it could have been 13-10 to Perry, in fact it's 12-12 - all to play for tonight...

Good evening... welcome to the culmination of this toe-to-toe encounter... but who's going to deliver the knock out punch... the drama will unfold tonight... Ali Carter thumps in a long red straight from Perry's break off, nice pot but no position... Perry creates a chance and he's moved on to 34 and still has a couple of loose reds before he need worry about the pack... a nice 57 but the frame isn't secure and he's left a red for Ali... Ali doesn't get it and everything is safe at the moment, 6 reds left.. Perry misses the thin edge of the reds... Perry finds another red and now Ali needs snookers... first blood to Joe tonight... Perry misses a red to centre and that's left a chance for Ali... and he's right on the black... he's going the scenic route so far but it's working... now he's in good position , onto 41... and that black would have secured the frame, but he's rattled it... Ali is 63 ahead with 67 left on... Perry can't find a way back and Ali has now got the red he needed... but Joe will takes reds and then probably lay a snooker on the last red, if he can... he can't and Ali has now levelled again... Perry gets the first chance as we move onto frame 26, but he's missed that red and opened reds, a nice present for Ali... and he's progressed to 29 so far... but he's missed a simple brown on 50, but it's run on and covered the pocket for the reds... good shot by Joe to snooker Ali on all 6 remaining reds... safely negotiated by Carter, but what a fluke that is for Joe, a red into the middle at a near impossible angle off his safety shot... and Joe's made 34 now, he's on the last red, but it's a toughie along the top cushion... he's got it, and he's on the yellow, only 4 points behind... he's going to regain the lead, and all off that amazing fluke... he's come the wrong side of the blue... but he's got a good pink with the rest to seal the frame... Into Frame 27 and Perry has left a red over the pocket to give Carter an opening.... a key shot there as Carter splits the pack off the back, onto 32 but the white's travelled away up the table... he's found another red at the bottom of the pack to keep the break going... this time he has lost position so end of break at 46... Perry smacks in a long red, here's his chance to get right back into the frame... I spoke too soon, he's missed the black... Ali's had an adrenaline rush on black and travelled a lot further than he intended, but he recovers to get the red, but now he's out of position... Ali leads 63-1 with 5 reds left...

Ali gets the red he needs and levels again... they go off for their interval now...

Cheers greet the players return... Carter misses an attempt red... Perry gets his, although it rattled a bit... he's not on a colour.. he creates another chance and has run in 32 and counting... on to 56... 6 reds left, Perry needs one of them... he's got it and again takes the lead... and there's a superb century by Perry... Into frame 30 now, Perry has made a bad safety error and he's left a red... this is a great chance, the reds are open as long as he can keep position on them... Ali moves onto 49 now... still in good position.. there's the red he needed, 71 up now, 67 left... and it's all square again... so now we'll have a best of three to see who goes through to the final tomorrow... the nerves are just beginning to jangle maybe, Joe missed that red, although not helped by a mobile going off when he was playing his shot... Anyway Carter has an opening.... he's not going to make much progress without splitting the pack... he does that great, but now he's over run his position and missed a much harder red than it should have been, he's got a44 point lead... Perry misses his red and Ali fires in a red to get the chance to win the frame.. now he's 67 ahead with 59 left on after that solid red with the rest... Ali's missed a long blue, not got it, but has snookered Joe on the remaining 4 reds... so now some nervous moments for Ali as Joe tries to find a way back into the frame... Joe has found a red, he needs to take blacks with these and then will try and get a snooker on the last red.. he's taken two of the reds but lost position, so there's the snooker laid... an easy escape... Joe takes another red and lays the snooker, he's 43 behind now with 35 left on the table.. that's sorted it, a thundering red by Carter and he's one frame from the final now...  There's a great opening red from Carter, a hard blue from under the cushion faces him now or a baulk colour, all difficult... he opted for safety, maybe just as well as he got a huge kick... Joe's safety left a red over the pocket but snookered Ali, a great shot there by Carter to swerve and pot the red and this time he is on a colour... that's gone wrong, the clip on the pack didn't work, he's pulled out an amazing thin clip on a red, he's really going for his shots here... he's opened the pack again, but he's found a plant to keep going, it only just fell in the middle, but he's lost position this time so the break will end at 32... and that's not a good safety shot, he's left a plant on for Perry... he's onto 26, he's got two more open reds and the last on the side rail, but not too far from the pocket... disaster for Perry, tried to clip the last red out and he's gone in off... but a gutsy 42 break and he's a meagre six points ahead on the last red... Carter gets a snooker and Perry's escape gives Ali the chance at the last red... he's missed it, he hangs his head on the table... Joe couldn't get the thin cut, and now here's a nasty shot for Ali, the red's near the pocket but tight on the rail... he tried the pot and he's got it safe... Carter's missed the thin edge off Joe's good safety and it's a free ball and he's snookered himself... Carter's hit it but he's left it on... Joe's missed it along the rail... it's very tense now, we're into the ooooh and aaah faze... Carter lays a snooker... great escape but it's on for Carter... he's got the red, he's on the yellow, 7 points behind... yellow and green are potted... not an easy brown now, he's got it, an easy blue and he needs the pink... he's done it... Ali Carter goes into his first World final to face Ronnie O'Sullivan tomorrow...

FRAME SCORES

1. 1-116(54,62)

2. 29-61(48)

3. 0-77(68)

4. 53(49)-13

5. 97(70)-38

6. 8-86(84)

7. 2-72(72)

8. 68(36)-25

9. 62(41)-35

10. 64(51)-57(57)

11. 99(38,56)-14

FRAME SCORES

12. 106(106)-1

13. 66(64)-1

14. 59(51)-64

15. 0-127(127)

16. 128(128)-0

17. 8-93(36)

18. 0-86(57)

19. 1-68(58)

20. 15-72

21. 83(68)-0

22. 1-94(82)

FRAME SCORES

23. 56-55

24. 68(40)-0

25. 5-95(57,38)

26. 114(63,44)-8

27. 50(50)-66(62)

28. 73(46)-1

29. 4-111(110)

30. 77(77)-0

31. 75(44)-24

32. 59-46

33.

QUOTES

WINNER

.

QUOTES