Here we go. I'm refreshed after a dramatic afternoon session and ready for this match between Kurt Maflin and Robert Milkins. Two great players, either one could win this event and get their first ranking title. An exciting evening in prospect on table two.
ROBERT MILKINS VS KURT MAFLIN -
After a lot of safety play here at the start the first good chance has fallen to Kurt Maflin. Expect him to score heavy as ever here with plenty of loose reds.
Break of 59 leaves Milkins needing a snooker in this opening frame now. 5 reds left on the lead is 68 for Maflin. Milkins goes in off a long red and it will now be 1-0 Maflin
First red in frame two goes to Maflin. He pots a red and goes into the others getting a great split and landing on the pink. A fantastic chance here to double his lead.
He only makes 12 though losing position from the third red which was a thin one and sent balls flying everywhere.
Lovely pot into the top corner for Milkins and he's away here. Bit of table time at the end of the last may help him as he sets about trying to level the match in one visit.
One visit it is for Milkins with a lovely quick and fluent break of 71. Both players look to be in great form and full flow again tonight. Should be an entertaining night. 1-1
First chance for Kurt in the third. Nice long cut lands him on the yellow interior the bottom. Rolls that in nicely and now in amongst them again.
As I finish typing Maflin misses a tricky one in the middle on 21. Leaves nothing but a safety shot though for Milkins.
Milkins gets a nice rub of the green to get a snooker and Maflin leaves one from the escape. Milkins misses the second blue on 7 though, only for Maflin to miss the pink and let him straight back in amongst the reds. Milkins needs to punish Maflin and can't let him off again.
Milkins does make him pay. 54 to the final red in very quick time makes it two frames in a row for Robert who is looking fluent and confident tonight.
Milkins pots the first red in frame four from range and lands on the green. Unfortunately he leaves himself hampered on his next red to middle and misses to let Kurt in. A good split on the reds soon turns it into a golden opportunity to square this going into the interval.
But the chance goes, missing a red into the middle. Luckily he hasn't left anything for Milkins but the lead of 53 won't be safe if Milkins gets in next.
Maflin has gone in off now and with a red in baulk, gifts a chance to Milkins which could be fatal. One red on the side cushion could be the saving grace.
The red on the side cushion couldn't save Maflin. Milkins brings it off while playing the third red from last. The final green wobbled in, and the pink was trickier than you'd like after finishing straight on the blue but it's no problem. Superb clearance to go into the interval 3-1 Milkins
Milkins first offering in frame five has gone wrong, missing on just four to leave a chance for Maflin. He goes into the pack from a red on 9 leaving a thin black which he gets a kick on and misses. Milkins then can't capitalise and Maflin is back in once more.
Maflin made 40 before missing and had another two chances before leaving Milkins needing a snooker. Not the best from Maflin but it looks like he'll take the frame. 3-2 Milkins
Maflin again had the first chance in the sixth frame but missed the black on 7 and left a red with the rest for Milkins. He potted the red and screwed into the bunch on the way out for the pink. Expect him to make a few from here.
Very unexpected miss from Milkins on 33. Lets Maflin off the hook and he must take advantage and rub salt into the wound. Positional play isn't quite there and he misses a tricky green but leaves the five remaining reds safe.
Milkins won the safety battle and was looking good until missing the penultimate red just a couple of pots from winning the frame. Maflin then potted the same red from range and cleared to the green which was on the black cushion and the chances of potting it and getting on the brown were low. Milkins has the advantage now with the Norwegian in a snooker on the green.
Maflin leaves the green up from his escape and Robert pots it and the brown to leave Maflin needing snookers. In potting the brown though he snookers himself on the blue and fails to hit it. He has since got that snooker back so Maflin still needs two. Now the blue is in for Milkins and he is one away from the semi's 4-2 Milkins
Frame seven has started off scrappy. Misses and in offs from both players. Maflin had a decent chance with reds open but left the black in the jaws to hand Milkins a match winning opening.
Milkins clears some good reds on cushions and makes the double on the penultimate red before missing the black getting on the final red. Maflin pots the final red and rolls behind the black but Milkins escapes. Then a loose safety from the Norwegian leaves a long yellow on which Milkins pots. Snooker needed for Kurt on the green or its game over.
Milkins pots the green to leave Maflin needing multiple snookers. Maflin pots the brown and is then forced to pot the blue after Milkins left hanging on in the middle pocket. Attempts on the pink last a little while until a kick from Maflin leaves it on and he concedes.
RESULT - ROBERT MILKINS 5-2 KURT MAFLIN
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