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Perry and Carter level heading into final session

03/05/2008

Joe Perry and Ali Carter are locked together at 12-12 heading into the final session of their semi-final at the World Snooker Championships.

Perry was trailing 9-7 after the first day's play but produced some excellent snooker to win the first four frames before the interval.

Carter reduced his arrears to make it 11-10 only for Perry to re-establish his two frame lead in frame 22.

However, Carter was not to be denied and he won the final two frames of the session to ensure a grandstand finish in the final session on Saturday night.

Their encounter is in stark contrast to Ronnie O'Sullivan's victory over Stephen Hendry, who he beat with a session to spare, and the Rocket is now going to be considerably more refreshed than his opponent in the final.

Perry did not have to produce anything spectacular to forge ahead at the start of the third session but did just enough to edge out Carter – who was finding it hard to put a run together.

Breaks of 57 and 58 along with two scrappy frames were enough to give Perry the lead. Carter found his stride with a timely 68 only for Perry to notch a break of 82 – his second best of the match.

Carter claimed the 23rd frame on the black to beat Perry by one point, just when world number 14 looked to be heading 13-10 ahead.

A crucial final frame of the session went the way of the 28-year-old Carter who put together two breaks under 40 to edge past Perry and go in all-square.