Jack Lisowski Set For Semi-Final Debut

An inspired Jack Lisowski has reached the semi-final of a ranking event for the first time in his career – and is showing plenty of evidence that he may now be ready to fulfil his vast potential.

The 26-year-old Englishman has taken down Chris Totten, Cao Yupeng, Mark Allen and Kurt Maflin en route to the last four in the Shanghai Masters, improving upon his recent run to the quarter-finals of the English Open.

He’s in great company as he goes into business end of this event with John Higgins, Ronnie O’Sullivan and Judd Trump lining up alongside him.

When he walks out into the arena surrounded by the game’s real heavyweights, he’ll feel a special buzz and it should fuel his desire to get here more regularly.

Liswoski – a 125/1 outsider at the start of the tournament – looks to have discovered a newfound confidence in recent weeks and it’s funny how quickly things can just click.

Next up he faces his close friend Trump who has cruised his way to the semi-final with four straight 5-0 wins in the tournament so far.

In many ways, this could be Jack’s best draw from the bunch following a recent win against him in the last 16 of the English Open and the fact that as practice partners down the years he will come to the table without any fear. This will allow him to play the balls and not the man.

Trump has been playing like an absolute potting machine this week and will certainly take some stopping. Judd is not the kind of player to take anything for granted these days and his huge respect for Lisowski will only focus him more.

Following his demolition of Luca Brecel, he told World Snooker how pleased he was to finally see Lisowski reaching the latter stages of events, recollecting that back when they were juniors he was a close second to himself but has in years since let fellow young players overtake him.

Now is Lisowski’s time to bite back and too many more runs like this could soon see him knocking on the door of a place in the world’s top 16.