Snooker: Mark Selby hits back from brink of exit

By NICK FREESTONE
Published on 17/01/2013 00:00

World No 1 Mark Selby produced a superb fightback last night to book his place in the quarter-finals of the Betfair Masters at the expense of Stuart Bingham.

Selby trailed 5-1 at Alexandra Palace but reeled off five frames in a row to win 6-5 and set up a last-eight clash with former world champion Mark Williams.

After Selby took the opening frame with a break of 63, Bingham assumed command of the match as runs of 55, 78 and 86 took him 4-1 in front. He then came out on top in a protracted safety battle on the colours in the next to move within one frame of victory. However, Selby’s breaks of 57, 86 and 68 got him back on level terms.

Bingham was first in after an excellent opening red in the decider, but badly missed a blue into the top corner to let Selby in. And although he needed three chances, Selby eventually wrapped up an unlikely victory.

Earlier, Williams also came from behind to claim a 6-4 
victory over Matthew Stevens after trailing 4-1.

At 4-1 up, Stevens was on the verge of winning the sixth frame as well but he missed a simple brown to go 5-1 in front and from then on committed num-erous basic errors as Williams took five frames in a row.