Mark Selby, a three-time champion, broke a five-year dry spell at the MrQ Masters, securing an impressive 6-1 win over Robert Milkins to advance to the quarterfinals at Alexandra Palace. The 40-year-old snooker maestro from Leicester, who clinched the Paul Hunter Trophy in 2008, 2010, and 2013, demonstrated his prowess after facing struggles in recent editions of the tournament.
Despite being a four-time World Champion, Selby hasn’t progressed beyond the quarterfinals in his last nine attempts at the prestigious invitational tournament. To reach the semifinals this year, he faces a formidable challenge against last season’s Player of the Year, Mark Allen. The head-to-head record between Selby and Allen is evenly poised at 8-8, with eight of those encounters being decided in the final frames.
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For Milkins, the defeat marks a disappointing return to the Masters stage after a nine-year absence. Seeking his first Masters match win, Milkins, who last appeared at Alexandra Palace in 2014, fell short against Ronnie O’Sullivan and Neil Robertson in previous attempts.
Selby took control from the outset, securing the opener and adding a superb break of 119 to claim the second frame. A frame-winning 53 in the third extended his lead to 3-0. Despite both players missing opportunities in the following frame, Selby capitalized on a disturbance from backstage to secure a 63-break, making it 4-0 at the mid-session interval.
Milkins displayed a glimpse of his capabilities with a fine break of 88 after the break, narrowing the gap. However, Selby sealed the deal with breaks of 70 and 74, ultimately wrapping up a one-sided victory.
–IANS
