Dates: 10-17 January Venue: Marshall Arena, Milton Keynes |
Coverage: Watch live on BBC TV, BBC iPlayer, BBC Red Button, BBC Sport website and the BBC Sport app. Highlights on BBC Two and online. |
World number five Kyren Wilson was knocked out of the Masters as David Gilbert came from behind to win 6-5.
Gilbert pinched a frame on the final black but Wilson compiled a 114 break as the first four frames were shared.
Both players lacked fluency but Wilson made breaks of 107 and 80 to take control at 5-4.
Gilbert’s run of 67 – his highest break of the match – forced a final-frame decider where a cool 66 break secured victory and a place in the semi-finals.
Wilson had a chance to make a counter-attacking clearance, but a missed pink to the middle proved costly.
In the evening session, defending champion Stuart Bingham faces 2015 winner Shaun Murphy (19:00 GMT).
Gilbert has only appeared at the invitational event twice but has now reached the last four on both occasions, being beaten by eventual winner Bingham last year.
The 39-year-old world number 13 is yet to win a major trophy and has had a poor season to date, knocked out in the first round of three ranking events.
Despite being outscored by Wilson, Gilbert set up a tie against world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan or two-time winner John Higgins on Saturday for a place in the final.
Gilbert said: “I thought I was going to win in one clean visit but miscued and then he missed the pink to middle – I could have stripped off and run around the table when he did that.
“Kyren is a tough competitor, he played much better than me but I kept nicking frames. I felt really good at the end, I would have liked to have finished off in style but I will take that. I am proud of myself for sticking in there.”
Analysis – ‘Gilbert a vastly improved player’
The 1991 world champion John Parrott on BBC Two: “Sometimes you can go back your room after playing and can be very proud of yourself by not producing anywhere near your best until it mattered.
“Gilbert was hanging around most afternoon, did not have his best stuff then produced two 60 breaks of enormous importance. Unfortunately for Wilson, he missed a pink which will not be nice to remember later on.
“How much confidence will that give Gilbert? He has been scrapping for form and all of a sudden he has had a big result.”
Six-time world champion Steve Davis: “Wilson came here with great expectations but even if you are slight favourite in a best of 11, it is still no guarantees now. He will be rueing that missed pink, it was relatively easy.
“Gilbert is into the semi-finals again – if you looked at it 10 years ago that would not have been the case. He is a vastly improved player and who knows what he is capable of?”
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Article courtesy of BBC Sport
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