German Masters 2023: Ali Carter beats Robert Milkins in deciding frame to edge thrilling semi-final

Ali Carter progressed to his third German Masters final with a 6-5 win over Robert Milkins in a thrilling semi-final in Berlin.

The 2013 champion trailed 3-1 to the in-form Milkins at the mid-session interval, but produced a series of high breaks, including a 133, to wrestle back the initiative and go one frame from victory.

However, Milkins produced a fight-back of his own to take the match to a decider, which Carter edged to settle an entertaining encounter.

Carter, who won in Berlin 10 years ago and was a runner-up in 2017, will face Jack Lisowski or Tom Ford in Sunday’s final.

But Carter responded well, producing a break of 53 to level things up.

Milkins looked set to take frame three after racing into a 74-32 lead, but an excellent snooker from Carter opened it back up as the Englishman launched a comeback, only to eventually crack on a long yellow as Milkins took a mammoth frame.

Milkins continued his impressive form as a series of three snookers in a row helped him stretch his lead to 3-1 at the mid-session interval.

But Carter came out firing after the break, rattling through the reds to produce a match-best break of 72 and reduce the gap.

It only got better for the 43-year-old after that, as he drew level with a break of 67 before producing the first century of the game – his seventh of the week in Berlin – a 133 that swung the momentum back in his favour.

The Milkman couldn’t wrestle back the initiative, despite starting frame eight strongly. Carter got back in it with a superb long red that helped him steal the frame in sensational style with an immaculate 83 clearance.

With Carter one frame from victory after winning four in a row, it looked like there was little Milkins could do. But he found his form again, making a lovely century with 109 to reduce the deficit to 5-4 in a nerve-jangling last-four clash.

He then ensured the match got the climax it deserved by sending the semi-final to a decider, knocking in the green while escaping from a snooker in an incredible conclusion.

The crowd roared the players to the table for the final frame, and they were treated to a suitably tense ending.

There was little to separate the pair as they battled it out, but Carter made the breakthrough with a snooker that helped him get on a red, and he showed the requisite composure to knock in reds and colours and eventually seal an epic match.

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