Kurt Maflin
Kurt Maflin kept his superb run going in the Dafabet Players Tour Championship Grand Finals in Galway by beating Ben Woollaston 4-3 to earn a semi-final meeting with Ding Junhui.


Pic: Monique Limbos

 

Maflin and Woollaston were both playing their first quarter-final in a full ranking event, and it was Norway-based Maflin who secured his biggest pay-day as he is now guaranteed £20,000. The 29-year-old former World Amateur Champion is enjoying the best week of his snooker life and will feel he has nothing to lose when he takes on in-form Ding for a place in the final.

 

The proflic break-builder made a 99 to win the opening frame, then added the second after his opponent had missed the penultimate red with the rest. Leicester's Woollaston clawed his way back to 2-2 and started the fifth frame with a run of 35 before running out of position, allowing Maflin in for an 89 clearance.

 

In frame six, Maflin seemed to be crusing to victory until he over-cut a red to a top corner with the long rest on 62. Gritty Woollaston made 38 then laid a snooker on the yellow, creating the chance to clear up and force the decider. But Maflin held his nerve and rolled a red into a centre pocket early in the last frame, going on to make a match-winning 66.

 

"I'm happy with the way I finished in one visit," he said. "I took on a few risky shots during the match and it paid off in the end. Ben didn't play that well but it was a tough match and I'm glad to win.

 

"The money means a lot to me because I am getting married in the summer (to Norwegian female snooker player Anita Rizzuti) so this will help pay for it.

 

"I'm playing well and improving with every match, there's no reason why I can't go further."