The Masters 2022 Semi-final Preview

And then there were four.

After a week of scintillating business on the baize, just two wins stand between either Judd Trump, Mark Williams, Neil Robertson or Barry Hawkins and lifting high the Paul Hunter Trophy.

It’s still best of eleven frames in the semi-finals, with Judd Trump (3) the highest seed still in the running.

Barry Hawkins is the only player of the quartet without a previous Masters title – the other three share four between them, with Trump the most recent to gain success in 2019.

So we’ve got two cracking semi-finals on Saturday, but who will edge into the final?

Mark Williams v Neil Robertson

Neil Robertson has gotten the nod over Mark Williams in four of the last five occasions they have met on the table since 2019, and the form of the Australian looks worrying for Williams.

Williams firmly believes he is punching above his weight in this competition, and can therefore rest easy ahead of his semi-final, knowing that the pressure is off.

The Welshman is 2/1 with bet365 to win Saturday’s semi-final against Robertson who is fresh off of taking the scalp of Ronnie O’Sullivan.

Williams came through a 5-4 thriller against his “Class of ‘92” compadre John Higgins and may struggle to reach those heights again, as he embarks on his first Masters semi-final since 2010.

We’re siding with the “Thunder from Down Under” in this one.

Judd Trump v Barry Hawkins

Judd Trump’s admission that he isn’t playing “anywhere his best” should be of huge concern for Barry Hawkins.

Trump came into this tournament as a favourite and is proving the bookies right after sweeping Kyren Wilson aside 6-1 in his quarter-final – his fifth straight win over the number 6 seed.

Three century breaks in two matches show you how well Trump is cueing at the moment, with his ability to sink long pots often breaking the ice of a frame.

Hawkins strolled past second seed Mark Selby 6-1 in a surprising quarter-final and can’t be counted out – “The Hawk” won their last meeting 10-7 at last March’s Tour Championship, enjoying five 50+ breaks.

Hawkins also won their previous semi-final meeting at the Masters, sneaking a 6-4 win in 2016.

Both are playing well enough to see multiple centuries in this semi-final.