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Gary Wilson has ‘got to be favourite’ for Snooker World Championship, says Ali Carter


Gary Wilson is into a first World Championship semi-final (Picture: VCG via Getty Images)

Gary Wilson should be favourite to win the World Championship after booking his place in the semi-finals, says Ali Carter.

Wilson beat Carter 13-9 to reach the final four for the first time in his career, producing a superb final session to see off his vastly more experienced opponent.

On Wednesday morning the Tyneside Terror made breaks of 117, 57 and then 72 in the final frame of the match to leave Carter wondering how the world number 32 is ranked so low.

‘I think Gary’s got to be favourite to win it now, the way he’s played, that’s got to be the performance of his life,’ Carter said after defeat.

Wilson came through the qualifiers to make the Crucible (Picture: VCG via Getty Images)

‘I can’t understand why he hasn’t won anything. He’s made three or four centuries in that match, his safety was unbelievable, his long game, every long ball he went for he potted.

‘The ball-run in that last session there was ridiculous, he just had so much form it was unbelievable, but that happens when you’re playing well.

‘I think he had a plan to go out there and absolutely go for everything. It was an amazing performance and you’ve got to take your hat off to him.

‘I didn’t think he could play that good, but he did and I’m sure Selby didn’t think so either, so we’re all wrong.

‘It’s all eyes on him for the semis now and good luck to him.’

Wilson came into the third and final session of the match 9-7 ahead and remained composed despite the new ground he was preparing to tread.

Carter has been to two finals at the Crucible, while Wilson was competing in his first quarter-final, and the Essex man admitted that he really fancied his chances against the Geordie.

‘It was a match where you look at the draw and you think, “aye aye, things are opening up” but forget who;s the face behind the name,’ said Carter.

‘If you look at the breaks and how he’s actually played, whether his cue action is attractive to look at, or his style is not orthodox, he gets the balls in the hole, he scores heavy and looks like he’s up for it.

‘He’ll enjoy the semi-final, that’s another step he’ll have to take and we’ll see how he gets on.’

Wilson has now defeated three seeds in Luca Brecel, Mark Selby and Carter and will go on to face either Judd Trump or Stephen Maguire in the semi-finals.

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