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SELBY THRASHES WILLIAMS IN SOUTHPORT

Mark Selby produced a superb display to whitewash Mark Williams 6-0 and reach the quarter-finals of the Coral Players Championship in Southport.

The result was a role-reversal of the pair’s first-ever meeting in 1999 when Williams defeated a 16-year-old Selby 9-0 at the UK Championship.

The Jester from Leicester has enjoyed a strong season so far, winning at the English and Scottish Open to reach 4th position on the one-year list and earn his place at this week’s elite 16-player event.

Defeat for Williams acts as a severe blow to his chances of qualifying for the series finale, the Coral Tour Championship. The Welshman is currently in the 13th spot on the one-year list and will now have to win the Gibraltar Open to stand any chance of edging into the top eight and sealing a spot in Llandudno.

Selby was in complete control throughout this evening’s tie, composing breaks of 60, 103, and 63 on his way to the comprehensive victory.

“I played really well from start to finish. I didn’t miss many balls,” said 17-time ranking event winner Selby. “Even at 4-0, I wasn’t getting ahead of myself. Mark was more than capable of doing to me what I had done to him before the interval. I’m really happy with the way I played and I hope I can continue that.

“In patches throughout this season, I have played as good as I possibly can. Against David Gilbert in the final of the English Open and even against Mark tonight I have played close to my best. It is there, it is just doing it consistently.”

His opponent in the last eight will be Stephen Maguire who battled back to win a 6-5 thriller against Ding Junhui.

Maguire, who lost to Ding in the UK Championship final earlier this season, had trailed 4-2 and 5-4. However, the tenacious Scot showed his steel to force a decider, where he composed an impressive break of 67 to secure victory and beat Ding for the first time in over 11 years.

 

Source: World Snooker