Watch Mark Selby warm up for Masters by hitting 750th career century
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ByEurosport
Updated 03/01/2023 at 23:30 GMT
Mark Selby warmed up for the Masters at London's Alexandra Palace by hitting his 750th career century in a 3-1 win over Ricky Walden at the Championship League. Fresh from winning the English Open before Christmas, Selby responded to a 112 break from Walden by rolling in a delightful 118 to seal victory. Watch top snooker action including the 2023 Masters live on discovery+ and Eurosport.
'Over the moon' Selby left delighted after emotional English Open win
Mark Selby compiled his 750th career century at the Championship League on Tuesday as he continued his hot run of scoring form ahead of the Masters.
The four-time world champion lifted the English Open before Christmas with a 9-6 win over Luca Brecel and showed his class with a landmark 118 break in a 3-1 victory against Ricky Walden in Leicester.
After losing 3-2 to Matthew Selt in his Group Three opener, the world No.2 recovered with a 3-1 win against Jordan Brown before overcoming Walden – who produced 112 in the third frame – to move top of the standings.
Selt made breaks of 80, 91 and 127 as he came from 2-1 behind to edge Selby, who ran in two half-century breaks in a high-quality encounter.
Selby finished his day with a 3-2 win over Robert Milkins that sees him hold a slender advantage over Walden on frames won. Both men have three wins from four matches.
Selby – who meets Kyren Wilson and Jamie Jones on Wednesday – is closing in on Stephen Hendry as the fifth heaviest century maker of all time. He is only 26 adrift of the seven-time world champion in sixth place since turning professional in 1999.
He will chase a fourth Masters title after victories in 2008, 2010 and 2013, but will not face Zhao Xintong in his opening match on Sunday at snooker's biggest invitational event in London after the former UK champion was suspended from the sport on Tuesday amid a match-fixing probe by the WPBSA.
Championship League Group Three concludes on Wednesday evening with the top four from the seven-man section contesting a semi-finals and final.
Stuart Bingham and Jack Lisowski have already qualified for the Championship League winners' group in early March.
The overall winner of the Championship League qualifies for the Champion of Champions next year.
All-time snooker century list
- 1. Ronnie O’Sullivan (Eng) 1,190
- 2. John Higgins (Sco) 910
- 3. Judd Trump (Eng) 878
- 4. Neil Robertson (Aus) 876
- 5. Stephen Hendry (Sco) 776
- 6. Mark Selby (Eng) 750
Latest Championship League Group Three results
- Mark Selby 2-3 Matthew Selt
- Ricky Walden 3-1 Jamie Jones
- Mark Selby 3-1 Jordan Brown
- Kyren Wilson 3-1 Robert Milkins
- Ricky Walden 3-1 Matthew Selt
- Jordan Brown 1-3 Robert Milkins
- Mark Selby 3-1 Ricky Walden
- Kyren Wilson 3-1 Jamie Jones
- Jordan Brown 3-2 Kyren Wilson
- Matthew Selt 3-2 Jamie Jones
- Ricky Walden 3-2 Jordan Brown
- Mark Selby 3-2 Robert Milkins
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Stream top snooker action including the 2023 Masters live on discovery+ and Eurosport.
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