After all of the shocks of earlier on in the Wuxi Classic, the top 4 ranked players in the quarter-finals, all got through to the Last 4. Robert Milkins, provisionally ranked 17 in the world after his victory today, got through after a 5-3 win against Anthony Hamilton. Milkins soon found himself 3-1 up after breaks of 120 and 73 as well as taking a 56 minute frame before the interval. A 53 in the next frame put Milkins 4-1. Hamilton battled back though and got the score back to 4-3, but another 53 gave Milkins a thoroughly deserved victory. No-one would begrudge Milkins of the title this week, but the next thing he has to do is overcome an in-form Neil Robertson.
Robertson overcame a massive test today against Cao Yupeng, coming from 4-3 down to beat him 5-4, in one of Yupeng's finest performances to date. The huge turning point was at 3-2, and Robertson missed a black down the cushion for a 4-2 lead, but Cao potted it to take it to 3-3. However, when Robertson was 4-3 down he found an extra gear making his best break of the match, an 87, to take this match into a much deserved decider. Cao didn't really have a chance in the decider and Robertson dominated to secure a 5-4 victory.
John Higgins got through to the semi-finals with a 5-2 victory over Joe Perry. I expected Perry to push Higgins a bit more than this, but it didn't really happen for Perry. He didn't have many chances early on, and missed some chances later on as Higgins took an early 4-1 lead with breaks of 97, 50 and 61. Perry took the next, but Higgins eventually got the 5-2 win. He now plays Matthew Stevens who beat David Morris 5-2, with top breaks of 50, 61 and 62. Morris managed to get it to the interval at 2-2 but struggled afterwards as Stevens took control, winning the next 3 to secure victory.
Semi-final Draw and Prediction:
Robert Milkins Vs Neil Robertson - Both guys are in fabulous form at the moment and have played some great snooker so far this week. Milkins beat Robertson in the first round of the World Championship and he plays his best snooker out in China. However, the circumstances are very different this time around and I think that this match will be very close. After the test that Robertson came through today though I think that Robertson will just pip him at the post.
John Higgins Vs Matthew Stevens - John Higgins will be a hot favourite for this, but Stevens has also played some decent stuff this week, and has pretty much gone under the radar to get to this point. To be fair Stevens has come through some real scraps this week, but if this match turns scrappy there will only be one winner - John Higgins.
Whoever wins tomorrows Semi's, it will be a great final line-up and i'm looking forward to seeing how this weekend unfolds.
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