Brentwood, September 20(HS):

Mark Selby showcased his world-class snooker prowess by edging past Jackson Page 5-4 in a nail-biting quarter-final at the English Open, held at the Brentwood Centre. The four-time world champion delivered an extraordinary 131 break in the decisive final frame to seal his place in the semi-finals, reinforcing his pursuit of a 25th ranking title.

Selby faced a fierce challenge from Welsh competitor Page, who stormed to early leads of 2-1 and 3-2. Demonstrating resilience and composure under pressure, Selby replied with an impressive 111 break to level the match. After claiming the seventh frame, he pressured Page, who responded with his fourth half-century of the contest to push the match to a final frame. Ultimately, Selby’s brilliance in the ninth frame ensured his triumph.

In the semi-finals, Selby will meet China’s Zhou Yuelong, who staged a dramatic comeback from 4-2 down to defeat 2023 World Champion Luca Brecel 5-4. Zhou’s key breaks of 94 and 113 enabled him to force a deciding frame, which he claimed in a tense 52-minute finish after Brecel left him a relatively straightforward shot to clinch victory.

Elsewhere in the quarter-finals, former Crucible finalist Jak Jones secured a convincing 5-2 win over Aaron Hill, ending Hill’s impressive run at the tournament. Meanwhile, Elliot Slessor established an early 4-0 lead against Mark Allen but was unable to complete a 5-0 whitewash, as Allen mounted a comeback, winning two frames before the match extended late into Friday night.

Selby’s victory and the compelling quarter-final clashes have set the stage for an intense battle in the English Open semi-finals, with high stakes and elite players vying for the prestigious ranking title.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar