We started the week with eighteen but now we have just four. Click below to read my preview of the 2010 Masters semi-finals…
Ronnie O’Sullivan v Mark Williams
Even when they are not in good form there is always something extra-special in the air when two of the so-called “big four” meet in the latter stages of a big tournament. This time however both Ronnie O’Sullivan and Mark Williams have been in strong form all week and could give us a match to savour tomorrow afternoon.
Ronnie’s path so far has seen him overcome Neil Robertson and Peter Ebdon, two very different players but two who have both caused him problems in the past. It seems like a long time ago now but Neil actually led 3-0 at one stage in their last 16 match before the world number one hit back with a couple of centuries, while Ebdon threatened a comeback of his own from 4-0 down.
Having not seen too much of him this week personally I am not quite sure how close to his best O’Sullivan is at the moment but on paper at least he seems to be scoring heavily when in amongst the balls, though I would expect nothing else from him.
Mark Williams meanwhile has played as well this week as he has done on the big stage for some time and is deservedly through to the semi-finals for the first time since he last won the event back in 2003! Against Ali Carter he looked to be in good shape but against Shaun Murphy he looked like his old self at times, particularly during the early stages as he moved into 3-1 interval lead.
Can he caused an upset and defeat O’Sullivan though? Recent form would suggest not, in fact I believe that he has not beaten the world number one since the 2002 Thailand Masters and they have played a lot of matches in that time. Records and sequences are there to be broken but it is hard not to make the defending champion a warm favourite…
Stephen Maguire v Mark Selby
World number two Stephen Maguire has been far from his best this week but is nevertheless through to the semi-finals of the Masters for the third time in his career. What is different this time however is that for the first time he will not face Ronnie O’Sullivan at this stage which for a player like Maguire who has been humbled a few times in the past by Ronnie has to be a good thing.
His opponent Mark Selby however is someone who is very comfortable at the venue having lost just one match there from eleven played. So far his form this year has been reasonable, brushing aside a very poor Ding Junhui way back on Sunday before struggling past Mark Allen tonight. I can’t help feel with him at the moment that he seems to be very rusty, not just this week having not played for five days, but in general due to the lack of matches and in particular, wins this year. Perhaps having been given such a close test by Allen tonight will have helped sharpen him up for the weekend.
Taking this into account therefore, as well as his stellar record at the venue and his excellent safety game, I would make Mark the favourite to win the match and set up a Wembley final with Ronnie for the second consecutive year…