Welsh Open 2009 - Semi-final discussion!

[gby4]

Joe is in the FINAL! After 18 years

[spike]

Well done Joe Swail! Still a shame it didn't go to a decider though

[JiangYu]

Come on, Swail! Beat Carter tomorrow!

[matoski]

It was allways going to be a drama with Joe Swail arround. I wonder what kind of excitement he'll provide us tomorrow? That cracking yellow was a shot of the tournament so far.

[Templeton Peck]

Looks like we're in for a sentimental final then. I kind of feel Swail has finally got what he was due over the years reaching that elusive final, and Carter is just too good to finish this season without a title...

[Alex0paul]

Joe you put me through the ringer there. Well played and I never thought I would see the day when Swail reached a ranking final.

[AndrewB]

Anyone know the last time a NI player reached a final? I bet it was Higgins or Taylor - it was so long ago I can't remember!

Think it was Taylor in the Asian Open in 1990 (more recent than Higgins's last final - the 1990 British Open).

[Kathrin]

What´s the h2h between them?

[AndrewB]

Swail certainly has the record for most semis without reaching a final (9).

The highest ranked players never to reach a final is a tricky question... Swail (10th) is the highest since 1983-4; Bill Werbeniuk was ranked 8th that season, but that was the first season when more than one event counted to the rankings. (Before that, Fred Davis and John Pulman were ranked higher).

The records now pass to Andy Hicks (5), and Barry Hawkins/Martin Clark (12th).

[McPants]

Awesome for Joe Swail. He really deserves this final place after all these years. I figure the Captain will win comfortably tomorrow though. He's due a win after his recent results and Swail may not quite be able to re-energise himself after a win as emphatic as this one.