With a classic performance, Mark Selby defeated Ronnie O’Sullivan 6-0 to advance to the Players Championship semifinals in Telford.
O’Sullivan, who has now won four titles, including the UK Championship and the Masters, had appeared to be virtually unbeatable this season. But Selby, a four-time world champion, put on an excellent show, ending O’Sullivan’s 16-match winning streak with half-century breaks or more in five frames.
In response, O’Sullivan bashed into the reds, setting the table for Selby to finally win the match with a break of 65.
After a clearance of 91, Selby, who will face either John Higgins or Zhang Anda of China in the semi-finals on Saturday, quickly gained early momentum. O’Sullivan’s lead was further increased by another break of 81 after he failed to capitalize on a chance in the third.
The Leicester Jester was putting on a show reminiscent of the old days, scoring another excellent break of 105 to lead 4-0 at the mid-session break.
After play resumed, O’Sullivan kept hitting mishit shots, landing in the top pocket and off a red, while Selby went on to win the fifth frame with a 59 clearance. After running out of position and attempting a safety shot back up the table, the Rocket eventually engaged its gears in the following frame with a break of 58, leaving a red on.
Following a few tense exchanges, Selby completed a spectacular victory by sinking a long red quickly into the bottom left corner and then skillfully placing a last red after O’Sullivan had left it just over the pocket and cleared the colours. Selby won the frame 70-58.
“Beating Ronnie in any tournament is an amazing accomplishment; I’m thrilled that I was able to defeat him in such a manner.” “It was nearly flawless,” Selby stated on ITV4. “It’s a big game, so you might as well put your cue away if you can’t handle matches like that.
“I was sure I could win because, in most cases, the score will go the other way if you don’t.” The most important thing for me is that, although I attempt to change things when I don’t win, these two performances have shown me that, regardless of the outcome, I should keep doing what I am doing.
In the afternoon session on Thursday at the International Centre, Mark Allen of Northern Ireland defeated Gary Wilson 6-4 after a grueling four-hour match. With two half-century breaks, 38-year-old Allen jumped out to an early 2-0 lead and led 3-1 at the half, scoring 75 runs.
Wilson, who took home the BetVictor Welsh Open title on Sunday, then rallied to tie the match at 3-3 after making a 76-stroke break. The third-ranked player in the world, Allen, persevered once more to win the seventh and eighth frames. He then missed a match-ball opportunity in the following frame, but he eventually finished with a 69 break.
After defeating former world champion Mark Williams in the opening round, Allen will face Ali Carter on Friday night in an attempt to advance to Sunday’s championship match.
