Mark Selby during the 2014 Dafabet Masters semi-final against Shaun Murphy at Alexandra Palace, London. Photo: Adam Davy/PA Wire
Saturday, January 18, 2014
8:25 PM
Defending champion Mark Selby booked his place in the Masters final with a convincing defeat of fellow Englishman Shaun Murphy.
The Leicester player won 6-1 to set up a final against either Ronnie O’Sullivan or Stephen Maguire.
It also enabled Selby to earn a measure of revenge for a 6-2 defeat against Murphy in the quarter-final of this competition two years ago.
Selby made a strong start with an 86 break earning him the opening frame. It was 2-0 on the back of a break of 104 and that became 3-0 after Murphy had missed a red along the top cushion.
A clearance of 62 made it 4-0 after Murphy had slipped up attempting a challenging pink, and when Selby edged a scrappy fifth frame the 30-year-old was on course for a satisfying whitewash.
Although Murphy stopped the rot, taking the sixth frame 59-15, there was to be no comeback as Selby closed the door in the next frame, which he took 76-24.
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