German Masters 2017: Hamilton clinches maiden crown

The 45-year-old from Nottingham was playing in his first ranking final in 15 years having defeated Mark Williams, Mark Selby, Barry Hawkins and Stuart Bingham in a tough half of the draw and now he can finally celebrate a maiden crown his talents so richly deserve.

Hamilton won the final frame of the afternoon session as he cut Carter's lead to 5-3 at the interval before going on to win a further six of the next seven to claim an emotional 9-6 triumph at the iconic Tempodrom.

He levelled the match with a superb break of 118 - the game's second century after Carter's 100 earlier on - and further runs of 73, 74, 70 and 57 over the next five frames sealed his comeback victory.

"It's crazy to win a tournament when I've stopped thinking about how to do it," said the four-time Crucible quarter-finalist, whose parents Cliff and Stella have been among the crowd all week. "I stopped wanting it so badly and that took the pressure off. It just feels strange to win another match and now I'm sitting here with a trophy.

"I've struggled for most of this week, but then found some form at the end from absolutely nowhere. I couldn't pot a ball up until tonight, then played the best snooker of my life.

"The key moments were at 3-0 and 5-2 down because I was really tired, I was cueing badly. I won the last frame this afternoon for 5-3 - maybe if it had been 6-2 it was all over. When it was 8-5, that was the same score I had at the China Open in 2002 and I couldn't keep that out of my mind. That just added to the stress, it was not a nice place to be. I just tried to concentrate and breathe properly and wait for a chance.

"I've had some nice words from the players this week, especially Mark Selby, he was texting me saying he wanted me to win. I felt some support from the crowd today because I hadn't won a title before and maybe that put some pressure on Ali.

"My mum and dad were here for the first time, I just wanted them to see me play here once before I retire because it's one of the best venues we've got. And how lucky that I ended up winning the tournament.

"Last season I told myself to stop chucking the toys out of the pram and to try to do the right thing whatever happens. Just be calm and try to the end. If you drive home after a loss but you've tried your best, you can be happy."

Hamilton, who picks up a winners' cheque of 80,000 euros, last reached a major final back in 2002 when he lost to Mark Williams in the 2002 China Open while his only other chance to win a title came at the 1999 British Open when he was beaten by Fergal O'Brien.

It's an amazing turnaround for Hamilton, who has now jumped from 66 to 38 in the world rankings, after he so nearly dropped off the professional tour last season with his game hampered by a chronic spinal condition. But since then he has won 24 of his 36 matches during this campaign to remind everyone of his abilities.

His triumph also sees him become the oldest winner of a ranking event since a 46-year-old Doug Mountjoy captured the 1989 Classic.

Carter, who had won all four of their previous meetings, was bidding to become the first player to win this title twice at the Tempodrom having defeated Marco Fu in the 2013 final.

Defeat sees the 37-year-old from Chelmsford miss out on a fifth ranking title of his career and second of the season having landed the World Open crown in July.

Carter said: "I missed a plant at 5-2 when I could have gone 6-2 up, that was the key moment for me. Every credit to Anthony because he played well tonight. I didn't feel I did that much wrong.

"I'm not the best loser in the world but I didn't throw this one away. Getting to finals is great but it's not what I'm here for. I have won one title this season and almost another so my game is in good shape." 

German Masters 2017 Daily Results

Wednesday February 1
Afternoon Session (1300 GMT)
TV Coverage: Eurosport 1
Martin Gould 5-0 Jamie Jones (Match 1)
Robin Hull 5-4 Jimmy White (Match 4)
Stephen Maguire 1-5 Ali Carter (Match 7)

Evening Session (1900 GMT)
TV Coverage: Eurosport 1
John J Astley 4-5 Ricky Walden (Match 2)
Ryan Day 5-1 Mark Allen (Match 3)
Tom Ford* 5-2 Peter Ebdon (Match 5)
Ronnie O'Sullivan 4-5 Mark King (Match 6)
Akani Songsermsawad 0-5 Zhao Xintong (Match 8)
*Ford registered a 147 break in frame one

Thursday February 2
Morning Session (0900 GMT)
TV Coverage: Eurosport 1
Stuart Bingham 5-3 Zhang Yong (Match 9)
Dominic Dale 2-5 Yan Bingtao (Match 12)
Barry Hawkins 5-1 Michael White (Match 14)

Afternoon Session (1300 GMT)
TV Coverage: Eurosport 1
Marco Fu 3-5 David Gilbert (Match 10)
Michael Holt 5-1 Stuart Carrington (Match 11)
Neil Robertson 4-5 Ben Woollaston (Match 13)
Anthony Hamilton 5-3 Mark Williams (Match 15)
Thepchaiya Un-Nooh 0-5 Mark Selby (Match 16)

Evening Session (1900 GMT)
TV Coverage: Eurosport 1
Martin Gould 5-3 Ricky Walden (Match 17)
Ryan Day 5-4 Robin Hull (Match 18)
Tom Ford 5-2 Mark King (Match 19)
Ali Carter 5-4 Zhao Xintong (Match 20)

Friday February 3
Afternoon Session (1300 GMT)
TV Coverage: Eurosport 1
Stuart Bingham 5-4 David Gilbert (Match 21)
Michael Holt 1-5 Yan Bingtao (Match 22)
Ben Woollaston 2-5 Barry Hawkins (Match 23)
Anthony Hamilton 5-2 Mark Selby (Match 24)

Evening Session (1900 GMT)
TV Coverage: Eurosport 1
Martin Gould 5-2 Ryan Day (QF 1)
Tom Ford 2-5 Ali Carter (QF2)
Stuart Bingham 5-2 Yan Bingtao (QF 3)
Barry Hawkins 4-5 Anthony Hamilton (QF4)
Click here for full review

Saturday February 4
Afternoon Session (1300 GMT)
TV Coverage: Eurosport 1
Martin Gould 2-6 Ali Carter (SF1)

Evening Session (1900 GMT)
TV Coverage: Eurosport 1
Stuart Bingham 4-6 Anthony Hamilton (SF2)
Click here for full review

Sunday February 5
Afternoon Session (1300 GMT)
TV Coverage: Eurosport 1
Ali Carter 5-3 Anthony Hamilton (Final, first session)

Evening Session (1900 GMT)
TV Coverage: Eurosport 1
Ali Carter 6-9 Anthony Hamilton (Final)