Carter or Fu?

Ali Carter takes on Marco Fu today in Berlin to become German Masters champion.

This is hardly the final anyone predicted but they've both worked hard to get here and are the two final men standing.

Carter beat favourite Neil Robertson 6-2 without hitting top gear, but instead took advantage of the Australian's poor performance.

Robertson's great strength is his all-round game but some people were suggesting he bogged himself down yesterday. It's great to be able to win ugly but these kinds of performances are draining. It's better to attempt to get straight on the front foot.

Ali looks in determined mood. He is aiming to win his third ranking title and his first since the Shanghai Masters in 2010.

Marco Fu played well enough but wasn't at his best in his semi-final either, despite two centuries.

He got the job done beating Barry Hawkins 6-4 but will be looking to improve a little more to win his second ranking event after triumphing at the 2007 Grand Prix.

Both players are capable of scoring heavily and putting a show on for the crowd if they can get flowing. They have a tough act to follow after the two previous German Masters finals but having both not won a big title for a while, it could be a tense one.

Either way, the terrific German crowd will be out in full force again.

**Pictures by Monique Limbos**