Mark Selby sets up Ronnie O’Sullivan semi after beating Stephen Maguire: 2012 Welsh Open
World Number one, England’s Mark Selby has successfully made his way into the penultimate stage of the 2012 Welsh Open against the Rocket, Ronnie O’Sullivan.
The 28-year-old trounced his opponent from Scotland, Stephen Maguire, in the quarter-final encounter by the score line of 5-3 at the Newport Centre arena in Newport, Wales.
The match-up seemed a scrappy contest as both cueists were trying their best to keep the pressure on each other. They went neck and neck until 3-3 but after that, Selby marched into a two-frame victory and was able to claim the semi-final berth. Selby’s
performance against Maguire in the quarters is considered to be one of his best displays ever.
Both Selby and Maguire shared first four frames by 2-2 with the help of excellent knocks from both ends. Maguire fired a marvellous break of 81 points in the second frame while the Jester from Leicester pocketed a cracking 110-point knock in the fourth.
The Scotsman clinched the fifth frame easily and was looking to snatch the sixth before Selby bounced back into the game impressively and took back-to-back frames to finally triumph over the Scot.
While speaking to the World Snooker after winning the quarter-final, Selby said, “I'm really happy because it was a tough match and I had to raise my game. A couple of years ago I used to make that type of clearance quite often and it was good to show I
can still do it. I should have gone out against Sam Baird in the first round so I'm just happy to still be in the tournament.”
He spoke about his next opponent, O’Sullivan, “Ronnie is the man in form and on a good run so I will have to play well again to give him a game. My game doesn't suit him but not everyone is a natural like him and I just have to play my own game.”
Playing O’Sullivan in the semi-final and at the time when he is on top of his performance will be a bit difficult but Selby feels focused. The Selby-O’Sullivan semi-final clash will surely be a thriller to watch as both potters have produced a good display
during the 2012 Welsh Open.
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