Mark Selby succumbs to Stephen Maguire in semi-final of Welsh Open 2011 – Snooker news
Stephen Maguire has beaten Mark Selby in the semi-final of the Welsh Open 2011 by a frame score of 6-5 in a best-of-eleven frames match.
It was a fully extended battle between the two which was fought well until the end.
Selby broke the first frame but after potting seven points had to study an early safety and the first chance fell for Maguire but he reprieved. After a few safety shots from Maguire on getting another chance dominated the frame with a break of 70 and took
the first blood 1-0. However, Selby also roared back in the next and with a couple of quickfire, 39 and 39, and levelled the scores 1-1.
The third frame between the players was quite scrappy and fascinating as well. They were neck to neck all the way until they reached the colours.
Maguire was leading Selby by 17 points when 22 were left on the table and they started having bout of safety. It took them more than 15 minutes reaching from brown to black. Some excellent safety shots from both players came up until Selby finally potted
the brown but then they had stuck on the blue and then on the pink afterwards.
Finally, Selby potted both balls landing perfectly on the black which was with the cushion but Selby made an unbelievable miss as the black just wobbled and stayed on the pocket for Maguire. Selby conceded to trail Maguire by 2-1.
Selby was also warned by the referee for dragging the black away from the pocket.
The last frame before the interval was also a scrappy affair as both players got enough chances but a lot of drama was seen. They were seen missing easy ones, getting kicks, and the balls were scattered all over. However, Selby was the lucky one to finally
get away with it before the 15-minute break on equal terms 2-2.
After the interval, Selby was the first to be among the balls in the fifth frame but he blew a golden chance by over cutting a red before Maguire did likewise.
Both players were missing bad balls as it had become a bit nervy for them. Finally, Selby capitalised the given chance and made a break of 65 to lead by 3-2.
However, in the next frame Selby was found a bit unlucky as Maguire fluked a red and made a sparkling break of 137 from it to square all by 3-3.
Selby responded with 88 in the next before Maguire took the next two with dominant breaks of 54 and 109 respectively. Maguire was leading Selby by 5-4 and needed one more for the match. However, Selby again clawed back and made a classy break of 90 forcing
a decider 5-5.
In the deciding frame, Selby made a mess of the break-off shot and Maguire showing nerves of steel made a carving break of 67 leaving Selby in snookers. Selby tried but eventually failed and Maguire went through to the final at 6-5.
Stephen Maguire will now play John Higgins in the final of the Welsh Open on February 20, 2011 where he is going to seek his first ranking title in the past three years and Higgins on the other side is going to defend his Welsh title.
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