Selby edges out Maguire
Mark Selby kept his nerve in final frame decider
Thursday, 17, Jan 2008 10:11
Mark Selby won three frames in a row to secure a superb 6-5 win over Stephen Maguire in the quarter-finals of the Masters.
The Englishman looked to be on his way out of the tournament as he trailed Maguire 3-1 and 4-2. But Selby hit breaks of 55, 103, and a final frame 53 to surge into the semi-finals.
Selby admitted after the match that he felt Maguire was the better player for large periods and he felt lucky to still be in the tournament.
"I'm gobsmacked to still be in the tournament," said Selby. "Overall, apart from the last three frames, Stephen was probably the better player.
"But luckily I was able to stamp my authority on the game and didn't give him much of a chance in the last three frames.
"Funnily I felt more relaxed when I was 5-3 down, so I'm looking forward to the semi-finals. Maybe I'll go 5-3 behind and then see what happens."
Maguire admitted afterwards "I just can't believe I've got beat", and felt that maybe thinking that he had already reached the semi-finals at 5-3 up, cost him the match.
Selby, meanwhile, will now face either Ken Doherty or Shaun Murphy in the semi-finals.