Snooker: O’Sullivan into Masters semis

Five-time champion defeated Mark Selby 6-3 at the UK Masters in London on Thursday

LONDON:

Five-time champion Ronnie O’Sullivan produced a superb clearance to beat Mark Selby 6-3 at the UK Masters in London on Thursday and advance to the semi-finals.

A 6-5 victor over Mark Williams in round one, O’Sullivan was never behind against Selby as he continued his return to major tournament action following a nine-month hiatus.

Selby refused to be discouraged and threatened to make it 5-4 with a break of 70 in the ninth frame, but O’Sullivan retaliated with a break of 73, clearing the table to book his place in the last four.

“It was a good first red. Under pressure it was good, but I was never going to refuse a shot,” said O’Sullivan of his match-winning clearance in a BBC interview.

“I don’t feel great, but I’m trying to kid myself that I’m confident. You’re not going to win this tournament by playing negative, playing bad. I need to try to find something.” 

Published in The Express Tribune, January 16^th, 2016.

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