Carter, who turned professional in 1996, also holds a pilot's license

World number four Ali Carter recovered from a 4-1 deficit to reach the Shanghai Masters semi-finals with a thrilling 5-4 win over Matthew Stevens.

Carter began his comeback with a run of 103 and in a superb finale rolled in a decisive black along the baulk cushion.

He next faces Mark Selby, who closed out a 5-1 win over gritty left-hander Mark King with successive centuries.

Jamie Burnett hit back from 3-0 down to beat Mark Davis 5-4 and will now play Jamie Cope, who beat Graeme Dott 5-2.

Stevens, runner-up in the world championship in 2000 and 2005, moved to within one frame of victory when he knocked in an 87 in the first frame after the mid-session interval, demonstrating his skills as a left-hander in the process.

After Carter compiled his century, he added the next having been 59-0 down, and then built a 50-point lead in the deciding frame.

Welshman Stevens responded and had a chance to win by clearing the colours, but ran out of position on the blue, and Carter's superb pot settled the contest.

606: DEBATE Discuss the Shanghai Masters here

Selby won the opening frame after needing two snookers against King.

The left-hander levelled and had a break of 52 in the next, but lost position and Selby swiftly went on to secure the match.

In the morning games, Davis rolled in breaks of 102, 84 and 83 to surge ahead against Burnett, before the Scotsman cut the deficit to 3-1 at the interval.

Having levelled with a run of 90, Burnett prevailed after a battle on the pink in the deciding frame.

Cope had a chance to achieve a 147 in the fifth frame against Dott, but missed the 12th red with a difficult long pot and the break ended on 88.

The seventh frame was closely contested, but after Dott went close with a double and both players missed chances on the yellow, Cope cleared the colours and quickly completed victory.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version