Players Championship 2023: Ali Carter thrashes Welsh Open champion Robert Milkins to progress to last four

Ali Carter strolled into the semi-finals of the Players Championship with a resounding 6-1 win over newly-crowned Welsh Open champion Robert Milkins. The clash between the in-form pair was highly anticipated after Milkins’ win in Wales and Carter’s triumph at the German Masters this year – where he beat the Milkman to reach the final.

Ad However, it proved to be a one-sided contest as the Captain followed up his shock victory over Judd Trump with another impressive performance, surrendering just one frame on his way to booking a last four spot. Players ChampionshipCarter springs surprise by battling past Trump to set up Milkins quarter-final clashA DAY AGO Carter will face Joe O’Connor or Luca Brecel next as he looks to add another title to his collection.

After a stuttering start where both players agreed to a re-rack, Carter took the opening frame with minimum fuss by putting together a run of 66. Milkins got off to the stronger start in an epic frame two, but Carter worked his way back into it as the frame was left in the balance, before nine minutes passed without a pot.

Errors from both players kept the frame open until the Milkman eventually snookered himself on the green, eventually giving Carter the chance to finish off the job by potting the green and brown. After a slow start, the Captain caught fire in the third frame with a 98 break that put him firmly in control of the match with a 3-0 lead against an opponent who was yet to fire a shot.Milkins finally got up and running before the match got away from him completely, edging a tight fourth frame without overly impressing to reduce the deficit to two frames at the interval.