Paul Hunter kept his Benson and Hedges Masters title defence on track by edging Alan McManus 6-5 to reach the final of the £695,000 invitation event at the Wembley Conference Centre today. The 23-year-old from Leeds, a 10-9 winner over Fergal O'Brien in last year's final, is now one victory away from becoming only the third player to complete a successful defence of the Masters title.
"It would be a fantastic achievement but I'll just be trying to enjoy the final," said Hunter, aiming to emulate Cliff Thorburn and Stephen Hendry. "I'm playing well at the moment but you just have to take it a shot at a time."
Filed by Sinéad Kissane
