| 2000 World Pool Masters | |
| Comment on semi-final play | |
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| Home | Alex Lely (Holland) 7 - 6 Efren Reyes (Philippines) Alex Lely, the defending champion, made it through to his second consecutive Masters final with yet another come-from-behind victory, this time against 1999 World Champion Efren Reyes. Lely, 27, a former Dutch 'B' rugby international, won his earlier two matches in similar circumstances and this time he found himself 4 - 1 down against a man acknowledged by his peers to be the finest player in world. Once again, though he clawed his way back and then went 5 - 4 in the lead as his confidence returned. Reyes then rallied to edge his way 6 - 5 ahead before breaking down to let Lely level it at 6 - 6. Lely broke in the decider and then made an incredible jump shot on the 1-ball, maintaining position on the 2. From there Alex cleared up to take the match and his place in this afternoon's final. Commented Lely, " It was a good match for me until it went 5 - 5 but then I missed a 4-ball when I got distracted by the cameras. It was my fault because I should have got up off the shot but he cleared up. The next rack I nearly blew it when my positional play off the 8 left me a tricky 9-ball but I made it to go 6 - 6. " After I broke in the final rack, I was left with a jump shot on the 1-ball and I remembered that I lost a Euro Tour final in the last rack when my opponent made a jump shot and cleared up for the match so I went for it and got perfect position on the 2-ball and cleared up. " I think Efren was a little negative when I overturned his 4 - 1 lead to tie the match. Maybe he was thinking back to last year's final. He is a superb player, much smoother than me but in the end I potted the balls. " I've been playing well all year but Lakeside last year was the last title I won so it doesn't do your confidence any good but I believe that I am 20% better player than this time last year." Ralf Souquet (Germany) 7 - 4 Steve Knight (England) European No. 1 Ralf Souquet is on course for his third Masters final as he overcame a poor start to beat UK 9-ball star Steve Knight here at the Lakeside Shopping Centre, Essex. Souquet, who won this event in 1994 and 1996, made a succession of errors early on to give the Knight Rider plenty of opportunities which he took full advantage of to move into a 2 - 1 lead. Souquet squared it, but Knight came on strong to move into a 4 - 2 lead much to the delight of a partisan crowd. However, that was the last success Steve had as the 31 year-old former WPA World Champion from Manching, Germany won the next five racks to set himself up for a clash with Alex Lely for the trophy and £10,000 first prize. Knight won £2.500 as a losing semi-finalist. For further details contact Luke Riches on 01708 782212, 0385 395688
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