World Snooker Championship 2021 - Mark Selby edges clear of Stuart Bingham in Crucible semi-final

Updated 30/04/2021 at 12:56 GMT

Former world champion Mark Selby gave himself a chance of another final at the Crucible when he took the lead in his semi-final against Stuart Bingham. The pair began the day at 4-4 but despite centuries from both players it was Selby who was able to come away with a two-frame advantage ahead of their third and final session (from 19:00 on Friday).

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Mark Selby edged a hard-fought session to move into a 9-7 lead against Stuart Bingham in the World Snooker Championship semi-finals.

Bingham and Selby started the second session at 4-4 after the first round of sparring had been unable to separate them.

Bingham edged the first frame of Friday morning’s play when his 62 was enough to beat Selby’s 52 break. But despite looking wayward with his long pots, Selby managed to grab the 10th to make it 5-5, before the pair traded a frame apiece.

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At 6-6, Selby delivered two brilliant total clearances, posting a 134 before managing a repeat with the same score to go two frames clear with two remaining before the end of the session.

It was then time for Bingham to hit back, with a century break of his own as he showed that his nerve was holding despite the pressure and surge in form of his doughty opponent.

A miss from Bingham left the final frame in the balance, leaving Selby with a difficult long pot that he sunk with apparent ease, and moving him to 5-3 for the session, and 9-7 overall ahead of the evening's finale.