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THE Oscars may have been underway in Los Angeles, but there was a greater performance in Newport as the final of the Welsh Open unfolded. And it was Ali Carter who at last picked up the trophy for the leading role, while Joe Swail was consigned to the supporting role in the final, yet it all began so well for the Ulsterman who settled so well in the early stages while Carter was fluffing his lines. Swail holding an early advantage at 3-2 before he finally broke free by pinching the sixth frame when Carter managed to leave the pink hanging over the corner pocket when he misjudged his safety. Swail's mission to get Carter was looking as if it would be accomplished, thanks to no end of a helping hand from Alister who looked as if he carried the weight of world on his shoulders.
The Belfast man was looking happier when he took a three frame advantage to lead 5-2. Yet it wasn't snooker of the highest quality- Swail was merely potting what Carter left for him. A missed black off the spot was to cost Carter dear as Swail stroked in a break of 40. Carter fluffed a great chance to get back into the frame when he twitched on a long blue as he attempted a counter attack, leaving Swail to wrap up the frame- and himself trailing by three frames.
It wasn't going according to the script for Ali- and he knew he needed to win the eighth frame of the afternoon if he was to stand any chance of claiming his first ranking tournament victory when the match resumed at 7pm. Swail bungled a safety to leave Carter a red along the rail of the top cushion. Carter took a deep breath, lined up the shot and the ball flew into the pocket. From that the Essex man made 54, and then duly completed the job when Swail's safety left Ali with a mid length red to the corner. Grabbing the chance the Essex man finally stopped the rot as he closed to 3-5 at the interval.
And what a turning point it was to prove as on the resumption Ali Carter became the Unstoppable Potting Machine as he put Swail on the rack. He hammered in a total of 420 points to the 17 that Swail managed in the first four frames on the resumption. Joe looked here, there and everywhere for any relief from the onslaught as Carter without mercy stormed back from 3-5 to lead 7-5 at the mid session interval. And just for good measure there were two centuries as Swail visibly wilted under the pressure from the Englishman.
There was no where to hide for Swail- as Carter hammered in another frame winning break to lead 8-5. Carter needed just one more frame to seal his first ranking title- and Swail to put it bluntly needed a miracle.
But as any professional will tell you in those circumstances Joe Swail is one of the most dangerous players on the circuit- Just ask Mark Williams who sat bemused at the Crucible as Swail turned a 8-12 deficit into a 13-12 victory- that ultimatley sent the reigning world champion crashing out of the tournament. Destiny though was to ensure that lightening though would not strike again here in Newport as Carter after a dogged safety battle with Swail finally forced a mistake. Swail going for a do or die long red left it in line with the centre pocket. Ali advanced to the table, was this it. The answer was apparently no as going sweetly on a break of 20 Carter had a simple red to the centre. Unbelievably he mis-cued and Swail was presented with a reprieve that he thought he would not get.
With nothing short of complete concentration and effort Joe put together a break of 45 before running out of position. Still remaining on the table was a gaggle of three reds on the top cushion- a tense safety battle ensued before Carter pounced on a loose safety shot by Swail and knocked in a long red and pieced together a break of 39 to complete a victory that he will long cherish. As the remaining colours disappeared Ali was breathing deeply as he came to the pink and then the black which disappeared to cheers and a puch of the air by Ali Carter. Sportingly Joe Swail held out his hand as Ali Carter completed the most astonishing fightback from 3-5 down, giving Joe six of the best in the process.
So Mark Selby's title passed to Ali Carter who finally took that massive step forward to receive the trophy. Swail knew he had been beaten by a better player and paid tribute to Ali's performance. For Ali the demons of Sheffield have been banished- you could say his career is now really taking off.
Suzy Jardine
The Belfast man was looking happier when he took a three frame advantage to lead 5-2. Yet it wasn't snooker of the highest quality- Swail was merely potting what Carter left for him. A missed black off the spot was to cost Carter dear as Swail stroked in a break of 40. Carter fluffed a great chance to get back into the frame when he twitched on a long blue as he attempted a counter attack, leaving Swail to wrap up the frame- and himself trailing by three frames.
It wasn't going according to the script for Ali- and he knew he needed to win the eighth frame of the afternoon if he was to stand any chance of claiming his first ranking tournament victory when the match resumed at 7pm. Swail bungled a safety to leave Carter a red along the rail of the top cushion. Carter took a deep breath, lined up the shot and the ball flew into the pocket. From that the Essex man made 54, and then duly completed the job when Swail's safety left Ali with a mid length red to the corner. Grabbing the chance the Essex man finally stopped the rot as he closed to 3-5 at the interval.
And what a turning point it was to prove as on the resumption Ali Carter became the Unstoppable Potting Machine as he put Swail on the rack. He hammered in a total of 420 points to the 17 that Swail managed in the first four frames on the resumption. Joe looked here, there and everywhere for any relief from the onslaught as Carter without mercy stormed back from 3-5 to lead 7-5 at the mid session interval. And just for good measure there were two centuries as Swail visibly wilted under the pressure from the Englishman.
There was no where to hide for Swail- as Carter hammered in another frame winning break to lead 8-5. Carter needed just one more frame to seal his first ranking title- and Swail to put it bluntly needed a miracle.
But as any professional will tell you in those circumstances Joe Swail is one of the most dangerous players on the circuit- Just ask Mark Williams who sat bemused at the Crucible as Swail turned a 8-12 deficit into a 13-12 victory- that ultimatley sent the reigning world champion crashing out of the tournament. Destiny though was to ensure that lightening though would not strike again here in Newport as Carter after a dogged safety battle with Swail finally forced a mistake. Swail going for a do or die long red left it in line with the centre pocket. Ali advanced to the table, was this it. The answer was apparently no as going sweetly on a break of 20 Carter had a simple red to the centre. Unbelievably he mis-cued and Swail was presented with a reprieve that he thought he would not get.
With nothing short of complete concentration and effort Joe put together a break of 45 before running out of position. Still remaining on the table was a gaggle of three reds on the top cushion- a tense safety battle ensued before Carter pounced on a loose safety shot by Swail and knocked in a long red and pieced together a break of 39 to complete a victory that he will long cherish. As the remaining colours disappeared Ali was breathing deeply as he came to the pink and then the black which disappeared to cheers and a puch of the air by Ali Carter. Sportingly Joe Swail held out his hand as Ali Carter completed the most astonishing fightback from 3-5 down, giving Joe six of the best in the process.
So Mark Selby's title passed to Ali Carter who finally took that massive step forward to receive the trophy. Swail knew he had been beaten by a better player and paid tribute to Ali's performance. For Ali the demons of Sheffield have been banished- you could say his career is now really taking off.
Suzy Jardine
Hopefully his career is taking off, as you said it 
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