Saturday 18 January 2014

Selby v O'Sullivan in tomorrow's final

Defending champion Mark Selby set up a Masters final reunion with Ronnie O'Sullivan after they both enjoyed easy victories at London's Alexandra Palace.
 

Selby beat Shaun Murphy 6-1 and O'Sullivan beat Stephen Maguire 6-2 to set up Sunday's final showdown.

Selby's Masters finals

Mark Selby
2008: Beat Stephen Lee 10-3
2009: Lost to Ronnie O'Sullivan 10-8
2010: Beat Ronnie O'Sullivan 10-9
2013: Beat Neil Robertson 10-6


It will be a repeat of the 2009 and 2010 finals, with O'Sullivan chasing his fifth Masters title.

World number two Selby is also on course to claim a fourth Masters victory in seven years.



Selby raced into a 5-0 lead in the earlier semi-final after winning the opening two frames with breaks of 86 and 104.



Murphy avoided the whitewash by winning the sixth frame, but Selby closed out the victory to reach the final once again.



"Before the interval I thought I played quite well and I shut Shaun out apart from the fourth frame, which I thought he had a chance to win," said Selby.
 

Selby's victory means he will compete in his fifth final in seven years, having won last year's trophy with a 10-6 triumph over Neil Robertson.



"Just lately I have not been taking my chances and not been as clinical as I have in the past," admitted Selby.



"That was probably because I had doubts and I was listening to too many people, but I have stuck with what I do."



O'Sullivan was equally dominant in the later match after Maguire won the opening frame with a 98 break, taking the next five frames in succession.



Maguire pulled one back but world champion O'Sullivan secured his 10th Masters final appearance with a 129 break in the eighth frame.



"This is the final of the Masters and you have to enjoy occasions like this," said O'Sullivan.

"You have to beat all sorts of players and Mark is going to make it very difficult for me."

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