Blast from the past: Mark Williams beats Mark Selby to claim German Masters title
Welsh cueist, Mark Williams beat Englishman, Mark Selby 9-7 to claim his first German Masters title at Tempodrom, Berlin, Germany, on February 6, 2011. After this win, Williams has 18 ranking titles to his account. The tournament was held after 14 years
of its dormancy.
The World Number Two secured a well deserving victory as he has been on fire from the very first round of the tournament beating Anthony McGill (5-1), Dominic Dale (5-2), Joe Perry (5-1) and Marco Fu (6-3). The Welshman dominated the game completely in the
afternoon session.
Selby, the 2008 Welsh Open champion, grabbed the first frame 0-92 putting in a beautiful 82 break to pick a quick 1-0 lead in the start of the match that shook Williams. Though the Welshman lost the first frame but he did not lose hope which gave him confidence
to win the next frame 84-0 firing an impressive half century break of 56 to level the game at 1-1. The two-time world champion continued his magical run and gained a 2-1 lead, clicking the third frame 108-0 after hitting an outstanding century break of 108.
The 2010 Masters champion, Selby, sprang back into the match to capitalise as he clinched the fourth frame 1-99 to equalise the score at 2-2. The Welshman’s followed with a scrappy fifth frame win at 81-0 to lead again, 3-2. The 27-year-old Englishman potted
a beautiful knock of 63 to take the next frame 71-0 and the scores were balanced again at 3-3.
After this tussle, the former two-time world champion was under stress and he could see the game getting tougher for him. His half-century break of 53 and a stunning century knock of 105 brought him back into the game as he grabbed back to back frames of
83-42 and 105-0 respectively, to lead again in the match, 5-3.
In the evening session after the interval, the 35-year-old Welshman extended his lead 6-3 after he won the ninth frame of the best-of-17 frames match, 71-46. Selby, the 2006 WEPF World Eight-ball Champion, was nudged down 6-3 before he fought back and took
the tenth frame 41-54 to lessen the Welshman’s lead 6-4. On the other hand, Williams was keen and well focused to sustain the lead. He smashed an impressive 96 break in the eleventh frame clinching it 121-0 to firm his grip on the match.
Selby bounced back again into the match and this time he played outstandingly well winning consecutive three frames, 27-70, 7-83 and 45-70, hitting a decent 60 in the thirteenth frame to balance the game at 7-7. Williams, AKA the Welsh potting machine was
completely outplayed by the Englishman.
Selby then wanted the balls to be replaced which took a while. He had got back into the game and looked to win the frame but to his misfortune, he missed the black ball off the spot. That was a chance William needed and he gathered some hope and passion
somehow and took the lead at 8-7 again, clinching the fifteenth frame 76-49.
The sixteenth frame proved to be the last of the match as the 2010 China Open champion, Mark Williams, sparked an 82 break in the last frame to grab it 83-0 and claim his first German Masters title. Mark Williams is now heading towards China to defend the
title he won last time to the Chinese, Ding Juhui, 10-6. The China Open starts on March 27, 2011.
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