Match Reports from the 888.com World Championship
Selby clinches decider
Ali Carter 12 – 13 Mark Selby
Mark Selby recovered from losing a four-frame lead to win a tension-filled deciding frame and continue his impressive run.
The 23-year-old led 10-6 at one stage, but Carter staged a comeback to take the match into the 25th and final frame. A break of 58 from Selby, massive considering the pressure both players were under, got him to the winning line just before midnight.
Trailing 5-3 from the first session, Carter got off to a perfect start in the second session with the tournament’s highest break of 144.
The world number 15, who knocked out Stephen Hendry in the previous round, also took the next two frames to edge into a 6-5 lead.
Selby has been impressive in his third Crucible appearance, and he hit a rich vein of form to win the last four frames of the morning session to go 9-6 ahead.
A break of 89 in the first frame of the evening put Selby four clear at 10-6, only for Carter to regain the momentum.
Carter won five of the next six frames to square the match at 11-11.
With the match on a knife-edge, Selby fought the nerves to construct a crucial 64 that got him within a frame of victory.
He looked to have a good chance to win in the next, but got a huge kick to miss a simple black. Carter made the most of his opponent’s bad luck to level once again with a break of 78.
However, it was Carter left ruing his luck minutes later when he potted a good long red only to see the cue ball go in-off. This time it was Selby who profited, and he made the most important break of his life to take charge of the frame.
The drama was not quite finished, as Selby missed frame ball to let Carter back in. He missed a red along the bottom cushion, leaving Selby with the easiest of pots. The man from Leicester duly obliged, punching the air in celebration.
He now plays Shaun Murphy for a place in the showpiece final.
