The match between Mark Selby and veteran Ronnie O’Sullivan was nothing short of what many expected – frantic stuff! But the latter looked like he could edge out Selby, didn’t he?
The Ronnie, who faced Mark Williams in the previous round, was nothing short of brilliant. He stroked the cue stick like a little girl frolicking with the hair of her little doll, peered wickedly at the snooker ball, and controlled the pace of the game like the leader of an orchestra. He was simply in control of everything at the table.
This time, it was Selby who was in Ronnie’s position. The five-time former champion established a two-frame lead after eight frames, closing the first session with a 5-3. In fact, it could have been a 6-2 lead if he hadn’t slipped in the final third and let the Jester from Leicester capitalize on his error.
So much to regret in it? Yes, because the unstoppable Mark Selby soon turned the game on its head, picking up the next four frames on the trot to make it 7-5.
O’Sullivan could have easily reduced the lead at 5-3 but once again didn’t have the blessings of Mother Luck. An unfortunate kick on the black by the 44-year-old ushered Selby into another win after both players traded safeties, and the veteran Ronnie just couldn’t keep up.
The next frame didn’t even take as much time, with Selby calling it a tie in grand style – a break of 97. He did his magic once more and then again till the scoreboard read 7-5.
O’Sullivan made another error on the brown at the start of the 13th frame, but the Jester from Leicester wasn’t the quick fox he was earlier on. Freudian slip from Ronnie? Selby failed to punish his veteran opponent for that single error, and O’Sullivan reinvoked his fighting spirit into the game, coming off with a break of 87 and reducing the lead to one frame.
However, this comeback was only temporary as Selby regained his two-frame lead soon after. The session ended in a 9-7 win for Selby, who was, for the most part of the day, busy with capitalizing on the error of his 44-year-old rival.
O’Sullivan was obviously frustrated at the outcome of the game and punched away at the table. But he would have to wait till Friday to invoke his vengeance.
Written by: Roland Arum
