Fearless Ford denies Lisowski to reach German Masters final

Tom Ford will play Ali Carter in this year’s German Masters final following a dramatic 6-5 victory over Jack Lisowski at the Tempodrom on Saturday.

The opportunity appeared to have passed the Leicester cueist, who trailed 52-0 in the deciding frame having led 5-3 in the battle of the tour’s two highest-ranked players yet to win a ranking title.

However, Ford produced a sublime 63 clearance to snatch victory on the pink and book a place in only the second ranking final of his career.

The world number 24, whose only previous such venture also came in Germany when he was runner-up to Mark Selby at the 2016 Paul Hunter Classic, will play Carter after the 2013 champion edged out maximum man Robert Milkins 6-5.

✅ 2016 Paul Hunter Classic
✅ 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯 𝗚𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀

𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲'𝘀 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 🇩🇪#GermanMasters pic.twitter.com/tH0Giglccu

— Live Snooker (@Livesnooker) February 4, 2023

Ford had won 11 of his 12 previous meetings with Lisowski and started with a break of 84 on the way to a 2-0 lead.

Jackpot – aiming to finally end his wait for ranking silverware – responded with runs of 102 and 84 on the way to levelling at 3-3.

Ford, who saw off 2019 champion Kyren Wilson in the quarter-finals, regained the initiative with contributions of 104 and 89, only for Lisowski to rally with 80 on the way to forcing a decider.

The left-hander built a 52-0 cushion from the first opportunity of the final frame. However, a missed red presented an unexpected chance to Ford, who produced a wonderful 63 clearance to scrape over the line.

𝗛𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝗶𝘁 𝗴𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗻. ❌#GermanMasters pic.twitter.com/lAOcATIshY

— Live Snooker (@Livesnooker) February 4, 2023

Earlier in the day, Carter also held his nerve in a tense decider to overcome Milkins 6-5 and reach his third German Masters final.

The 2013 champion, who was also runner-up to Anthony Hamilton six years ago, found himself 3-1 behind as his opponent sought only a second ranking final.

However, the Captain came flying out of the blocks after the interval with breaks of 72, 67 and 133 turning the contest on its head, before producing a brilliant 83 clearance from 45-0 down to move to the brink of victory.

Reigning Gibraltar Open champion Milkins, who produced a magical maximum break in his quarter-final win over Chris Wakelin, stopped the rot with a superb break of 109, and snatched frame 10 on the pink to ensure a decider.

But the Milkman was unable to capitalise on an early opportunity, enabling Carter to eventually seal a 10th ranking final appearance.

✅ 2013
✅ 2017
✅ 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯

🔐 𝗚𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 #⃣3⃣#GermanMasters pic.twitter.com/Cecabifa5h

— Live Snooker (@Livesnooker) February 4, 2023