2014 DAFABET MASTERS
Semi Finals
Two of these shots were in the deciding frame. Selby managed to lay a snooker by coming off the bottom right cushion and nestling behind the green on the baulk cushion. John’s failed attempt at an escape gave Selby a scoring opportunity which he took and at the end of the frame, with only the final three colours left, the scores were tied at 69 apiece. Selby, sensing his chance, played a wonderful cross double into the right middle and swung the cueball off of two cushions to land on the pink to the same pocket which he duly potted. This set-up a semi-final clash with good friend Shaun Murphy , in a repeat of the 2012 UK Championship final.
In the bottom half of the draw, Stephen Maguire continued his good form by defeating world number 1 Neil Robertson comfortably. One noticeable element of Maguire’s tournament was his tendency to get off to a quick start against Perry and Robertson. In doing so, Maguire denied the viewers at home the chance to see Robertson take on O’Sullivan in what surely would have been a “no holds barred” affair but set up a nonetheless enticing encounter against the reigning world champion.
Compared to the earlier rounds, the semi-finals were perhaps a bit disappointing. In the first match, the “real” Mark Selby (who had been missing for quite some time now) decided to turn up in his match against Shaun Murphy. Selby’s A-game was there from the off; his scoring was heavy and his safety play unparalleled, which resulted in the first 5 frames going the way of the Jester. Although Shaun did manage to avoid the dreaded whitewash, Selby closed out the match in the next frame to reach the final where he would await the winner of Maguire or O’Sullivan.
Maguire started brightly enough in the match by taking the first frame but after that, it was all downhill from there. Errors crept
into the Maguire game and his frustration began to boil over resulting in plenty of cue banging.
Not only was O’Sullivan getting opportunities he was
and still looking as good in amongst the balls as ever. Maguire couldn't get himself back into the contest, picking up just one of the next seven frames after the first and O’Sullivan eased into the final for just the loss of 3 frames in 3 matches. It was going to take an almighty effort even from Mark Selby to stop 'The Rocket' from taking off with this years Masters...and his fifth.
Photo: Monique Limbos
Photo: Monique Limbos
Photo: Monique Limbos
Photo: Monique Limbos