But yesterday Ding Junhui and Jamie Cope played so well, they cruised into the semi-finals. If you read my Masters preview last week, you'll know I didn't fancy either player to enjoy a good run at Wembley.
That's because of the form they've shown leading into the tournament and the difficult first round draws they were handed. But they've shrugged that off, and easy wins in the quarter-finals means they have plenty in the tank left to make their semi-final a cracker.Ding's transition is form is so vast, I think he can lift the trophy now.
He's the kind of player who, if he gets it together, is very dangerous.Three centuries in his 6-2 win over Dott shows he means business. The young Chinese potter personifies a confidence player. But with two wins under his belt, and enjoying his best run at the event since he finished runner-up to Ronnie O'Sullivan in 2007, he'll have the belief to go all the way.
And when Ding plays with belief, he can be devastating in the balls.
He faces a tough match against Cope before booking his place in the final though. The man from Stoke smashed King 6-1 last night.
What happened to the player who knocked out Mark Selby? Because King was never in this match. We know what a fantastic potter Cope is, and he's enjoying a terrific debut at Wembley.
While some of his more experienced professionals still struggle to get to grips with playing a such a large venue, Cope is having no such trouble. Although he's met Shaun Murphy and King both playing way below par so far, you can still see he plays with a fearless streak.
That's why he has a chance, but Ding will prove his biggest test of the week so far, when they meet on Saturday.
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