Mark Williams beats Mark Selby, 9-7 in final clash at Tempodrom: 2011 German Masters
Welshman Mark Williams, beat Englishman Mark Selby, 9-7, to claim his first German Masters title at Tempodrom in Berlin, Germany on Sunday, February 6, 2011.
With the German Masters victory, Williams has added eighteen ranking titles to his scintillating account. The German Masters tournament was held after 14 years of its dormancy.
Current World Number One, Williams, took a well deserving victory as he had been on fire from the very first round of the tournament after 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 of the final match.
The 2008 Welsh Open champion, Selby, grabbed the first frame 0-92 potting a fine 82-point break to take a quick 1-0 lead in the match. The Welshman lost the first frame but he did not lose hope and won 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 then gained a 2-1 lead clicking the third frame by 108-0, after an outstanding century break of 108.
The 2010 Masters champion, Selby, sprang back into the match and clinched the scrappy fourth frame 1-99, to equalise the score at 2-2, followed by the Welshman’s fifth frame win with 81-0 to take the score board to 3-2. The 27-year-old Selby potted a terrific
knock of 63 to take the next frame 71-0 and pulled level again at 3-3.
Williams went under heavy stress after the see-saw battle which endured for six frames, but he held his nerves and continued his struggle. A half-century break of 53 followed by a stunning century knock of 105 brought him back into the game, as he grabbed
back-to-back frames with 83-42 and 105-0, respectively, to take back his lead in the match at 5-3.
In the evening session after the interval, the 35-year-old Welshman, Williams, extended his lead to 6-3 after he won the ninth frame of the best-of-17 frames match at 71-46. The Jester from Leicester, Selby, was nudged down at 6-3 before he fought back and
took the tenth frame 41-54, to move within one frame up against Welshman at 6-4.
Williams focused on his game to maintain his lead, as he smashed an impressive 96 break in the eleventh frame to take the score to 121-0 and secure a strong position in the match.
Selby bounced back from nowhere and played outstandingly well to win three consecutive frames by 27-70, 7-83 and 45-70, after hitting a decent 60 in the thirteenth to balance the game at 7-7. The Welsh Potting Machine, Williams, was completely outplayed
by the Englishman in the concluding part of the clash.
Selby then got back in the game and looked to win the frame but he was unfortunate, as he missed the black ball off the spot. William needed the chance so he stumbled upon the table and took the fifteenth frame 76-49, to lead at 8-7.
The sixteenth frame proved to be the last of the match, as the 2010 China Open champion, Mark Williams, pocketed an 82 break in the last frame to grab the win at 83-0 and claim his first German Masters title.
While speaking to the media after his victory, Williams said, “I'm really happy with that win, it was a nerve-wracking experience, both in front of that unbelievable crowd and also after the UK Championships.”
He added, “I was in my seat when Mark was about to level the match thinking 'Am I going to let another one slip?' but then I realised that there was little I could do about it and that relaxed me. In truth, he could have moved 8-7 up himself but the break
in the last frame was brilliant as I realised in Telford that you are not safe with just 60-odd breaks against the like of John and Mark.”
The overall score line of the match was 0-92 (82), 84-0 (56), 108-0 (108), 1-99, 81-0, 0-71 (63), 87-42 (53), 105-0 (105), 71-46, 41-54, 121-0 (96), 27-70, 7-83 (60), 45-70, 76-49 and 83-0 (82).
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