Selby books final spot
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ByEurosport
Published 05/05/2007 at 21:44 GMT
Mark Selby booked his place in his first World Championship final after triumphing 17-16 in a thrilling semi-final against Shaun Murphy. Selby was staring down the barrel of defeat when Murphy (pictured) moved in to a 16-14 lead, but won the final three f
SNOOKER; Shaun Murphy; 2007
Image credit: Imago
The result keeps Selby on course for a remarkable cue-sport double after winning the 2006 World 8-ball Pool Championships.
The 23-year-old showed remarkable guts and nerve during a hard-working final-frame break of 69.
And although Murphy played his full part in what will go down as a true classic, Selby's victory truly delighted the crowd in the Crucible, who have adopted the Jester from Leicester as one of their own.
The pair began their final session level at 12-12, and it was Murphy who started the faster with a classy 101 to edge in front.
But Selby's long red, flicked in to the corner pocket off the black, after an intriguing bout of safety prompted another century - 104 - to level the match again at 13-13.
A break of 41 was enough for Murphy to take the third frame of the evening, although Selby took advantage of an outrageous fluked red with a break of 71 to level for a second time at the mid-session interval.
Murphy moved to ahead for a third time thanks to his second century of the evening, a superb 132 taking him within two frames of the final.
And the local boy edged within touching distance at 16-14 after a rollercoaster 30th frame in which Selby fought back from 71 points behind, some super safety earning a golden chance to pinch the frame before leaving the final blue in the jaws.
Selby was visibly frustrated with himself for wasting the chance, but recovered his composure quickly to keep his hopes alive at 16-15 thanks to breaks of 68 and 31 in the 31st frame.
And he showed admirable guts during a torturously tense 32nd frame, eventually cutting in a fine red in to the middle at the end of a long spell of safety to take the match in to a decider.
When Murphy gave him a glimmer of a chance in the final frame, the youngster showed steel nerves in firing it home - and taking full advantage to set up the biggest match of his career.
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