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Ssb - the final four
The winner of today's first Shanghai Masters semi-final will be called Jamie.
If that's wrong we may as well all pack up and go home. Then again, it's been that sort of tournament...
Cope will start favourite after three good performances and wins over Steve Davis, Ding Junhui and Graeme Dott.
It's four seasons since the Stoke shotgun appeared in two ranking finals and he hasn't kicked on since. Indeed, this is his first ranking tournament semi-final since the 2007 China Open.
But Cope, who celebrates his 25th birthday tomorrow, is still a considerable talent and as long as he can keep a lid on his frustration he has a great chance to lift his first ranking title.
Burnett has toiled as a journeyman for 18 years before reaching his first semi-final. Mark Davis rather fell apart from 4-1 up to him yesterday but I don't expect Cope to and therefore Burnett needs to make a good start.
Mark Selby played very well to beat Mark King 5-1 yesterday. Ali Carter produced a grest escape against Matthew Stevens but, again, I wouldn't expect Selby to collapse from 4-1 up.
Carter has been solid if unspectacular all week. He will need to improve to beat Selby and reach the final.
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If that's wrong we may as well all pack up and go home. Then again, it's been that sort of tournament...
Cope will start favourite after three good performances and wins over Steve Davis, Ding Junhui and Graeme Dott.
It's four seasons since the Stoke shotgun appeared in two ranking finals and he hasn't kicked on since. Indeed, this is his first ranking tournament semi-final since the 2007 China Open.
But Cope, who celebrates his 25th birthday tomorrow, is still a considerable talent and as long as he can keep a lid on his frustration he has a great chance to lift his first ranking title.
Burnett has toiled as a journeyman for 18 years before reaching his first semi-final. Mark Davis rather fell apart from 4-1 up to him yesterday but I don't expect Cope to and therefore Burnett needs to make a good start.
Mark Selby played very well to beat Mark King 5-1 yesterday. Ali Carter produced a grest escape against Matthew Stevens but, again, I wouldn't expect Selby to collapse from 4-1 up.
Carter has been solid if unspectacular all week. He will need to improve to beat Selby and reach the final.
More...