Chris Wakelin booked his ticket to next month’s Champion of Champions with a convincing 6-1 victory over Jack Lisowski, in the process securing his place in Sunday's Northern Ireland Open final.
Lisowski was widely expected to reach his first final of the season following another impressive week’s work in Belfast, but he would come up short in another semi-final, suffering a bruising defeat that ensures his wait for a first ranking title wins goes on.
Wakelin didn’t have to be at his best to build a 3-1 lead, and Lisowski was visibly frustrated as he left the Waterfront Hall at the mid-session interval with his game clearly missing.
His mood didn’t improve after the break and Wakelin enjoyed a clear passage to the final, adding breaks of 71 and 66 to his two earlier half-centuries.
A delighted Wakelin told World Snooker Tour afterwards: “I’ve never played that well on such a big occasion, especially given how talented and dangerous Jack is.
“I’ve put a lot of work in and I’ve got a great team around me. My best mate Jason has been here all week, his wife Kate keeps ringing him and asking when he’s coming home!
“To be in the Champion of Champions is a great bonus because it’s such a big tournament. I used to go and watch my friend Mark Selby in that event every year and thought there was fat chance of me ever getting in it.”
Trump comeback stuns Hawkins
Judd Trump produced a brilliant comeback against Barry Hawkins to continue his recent golden run, rallying from three frames behind to eventually win 6-4.
Trump has won the English Open and Wuhan Open in recent weeks, and is now only one match away from a third title of the season following this latest great escape.
Hawkins appeared firmly in control of proceedings when easing into a 3-0 lead, but Trump sprung into life and delivered a champion performance thereafter.
A break of 90 in frame four gave him a foothold in the match and though Hawkins hit straight back to move 4-1 in front, Trump then put together back-to-back breaks of 70 before dominating the next two frames to turn the match on its head.
The comeback was complete when Trump signed off with a superb clearance of 128, five frames on the spin earning him the chance to win the tournament for a fourth time on Sunday.
