The Northern Irishman Mark Allen, 36 years outdated, fifth in the hierarchy, is the first finalist to qualify for the World Grand Prix race of the 2022/23 season that may run till Sunday in Cheltenham (England), by defeating the Thai Noppon Saengkham, 30 years outdated, solely thirty second in the hierarchy, by 6-1, in the first semi-final of the match, and acquired the fourth final in a season in which he already gained two competitions (Northern Irish Open and UK Championship ) and misplaced the decisive duel at the British Open (7-10 towards Welshman Ryan Day).
After ‘sending’ with a bang three world champions in the three earlier rounds – the English Mark Selby in the ‘sixteenth’ (4-1), and Ronnie O’Sullivan in the ‘eighth’ (4-2), extra over the Welshman Mark Williams in the ‘quarters’ (5-3) -, Noppon, the affable Asian, couldn’t overcome the ‘man of the second’, the acceptable participant of the season, ‘The Pistol’ Allen, who categorical in , in the fifth semi-final of Saengkham in ten years as an expert, denying him to undergo the final degree of a contest, a grand final.
A ‘half’ in which Allen, extra skilled, and with entries of 73 and 66 factors, shortly reached 2-0, and then 3-1 at halftime, due to a ‘break’ of 78 factors, which Noppon scored 58 factors. rating in the third partial, then to tug 1-2.
At the restart, Mark fired a century (‘break’ of 127 factors) for 4-1, and 5-1 got here instantly, to be one away from the victory, which got here instantly: 6-1.
In the final, Mark Allen should overcome a world champion… and an Englishman: both Shaun Murphy, winner of the Crucible in 2005, or Judd Trump, enshrined in Sheffield in 2019, who will face one another. on Saturday evening (19:00 native time, similar time as mainland Portugal) in the second half of the World Grand Prix. In phrases of direct confrontations, traditionally with Murphy, Allen has the drawback: 15 wins for the Englishman to 9 for the Northern Irishman in 24 video games. Like Judd Trump, in 31 conferences, and in addition to at least one draw (in the Premier League), the Englishman gained 14 and the Northern Irishman the remaining 16.
This is as a result of in the afternoon session this Friday, and in the final two video games of the quarterfinals, ‘The Magician’ Murphy, 40 years outdated, surpassed the ‘black’ (5-4) of the Scottish Anthony McGill, 31 years outdated. , nineteenth in the hierarchy, whereas ‘The Ace in the Pack’ (Judd Trump), 33 years outdated, dominated the Chinese Xiao Guodong, 33 years outdated, thirty third in the world desk (5-3).
The second ‘half’, between Murphy and Trump, is nonetheless performed on Saturday to the greatest of 11 ‘frames’: they go to the World Grand Prix final, on Sunday, the first to win six (6-0 to the doable which is 6-5). .
The final, on Sunday, has two classes (13:00 and 19:00, eight partials can be performed in the afternoon, and possibly 11 extra in the night) and is the greatest of the 19 ‘frames’: the first who wins ten (out of 10) can be the champion. -0 to a doable 10-9).
The World Grand Prix, World Snooker’s 2023/24 season competitors reserved for the ‘prime 16’ of the rating for one yr, will happen at The Centaur, the grand corridor of Cheltenham Racecourse (England) till the twenty second.
The match distributes £380,000 (€433,790) in prizes, of which £100,000 (€114,155) to the future champion and is broadcast in Portugal (EuroSport).
Quarterfinals (chosen in black):
Mark Allen, IrN -Jack Lisowski, Eng, 5-4
Noppon Saengkham, Tai – Mark Williams, Gal, 5-3
Shaun Murphy, Ing – Anthony McGill, Esc, 5-4
Judd Trump, Ing – Xiao Guodong, Chn, 5-3
Semi-finals (proven in black):
Mark Allen, IrN – Noppon Saengkham, Tai, 6-1
Shaun Murphy, Eng –Judd Trump, Eng / Xiao Guodong, Chn (Sat, 7pm)
Final World Grand Prix:
Mark Allen, IrN – Shaun Murphy, ING / Judd Trump, ING (Sunday 1pm & 7pm)
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