Alex Lely, the defending champion, made it through to his second consecutive Masters final with yet another come-from-behind victory, this time against 1999 World Champion Efren Reyes.

Lely, 27, a former Dutch 'B' rugby international, won his earlier two matches in similar circumstances and this time he found himself 4 - 1 down against a man acknowledged by his peers to be the finest player in world.

Once again, though he clawed his way back and then went 5 - 4 in the lead as his confidence returned. Reyes then rallied to edge his way 6 - 5 ahead before breaking down to let Lely level it at 6 - 6.

Lely broke in the decider and then made an incredible jump shot on the 1-ball, maintaining position on the 2. From there Alex cleared up to take the match and his place in this afternoon's final.

Commented Lely, " It was a good match for me until it went 5 - 5 but then I missed a 4-ball when I got distracted by the cameras. It was my fault because I should have got up off the shot but he cleared up. The next rack I nearly blew it when my positional play off the 8 left me a tricky 9-ball but I made it to go 6 - 6.

" After I broke in the final rack, I was left with a jump shot on the 1-ball and I remembered that I lost a Euro Tour final in the last rack when my opponent made a jump shot and cleared up for the match so I went for it and got perfect position on the 2-ball and cleared up.

" I think Efren was a little negative when I overturned his 4 - 1 lead to tie the match. Maybe he was thinking back to last year's final. He is a superb player, much smoother than me but in the end I potted the balls.

" I've been playing well all year but Lakeside last year was the last title I won so it doesn't do your confidence any good but I believe that I am 20% better player than this time last year."

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