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.”