World Snooker Championship 2021 – Mark Selby maintains three-frame lead over Shaun Murphy in final
Published 03/05/2021 at 15:36 GMT
Mark Selby held a 10-7 lead overnight and the three-time world champion extended that to 13-9 before Shaun Murphy battled back. The third session ended 14-11, meaning Selby needs four frames on Monday evening to win the World Snooker Championship for the first time in four years. The final session is live on Eurosport from 6.45pm.
Mark Selby will take a three-frame advantage going into the last session of the World Championship final on Monday night.
The afternoon session saw Selby end 14-11 ahead, meaning the three-time world champion is just four frames away from a fourth crown.
Selby had narrowly trailed 7-6 before taking control of the final with four frames in a row on Sunday night.
Returning to the table with a 10-7 lead, Selby saw his advantage cut to two when Murphy struck first on Monday – a 77 break enough to win the opening frame.
A tight 19th frame featured an almighty fluke on the blue from Murphy, but after he missed the black when 62-58 down it was Selby who stole it with a thin cut into the same pocket.
There was a highly controversial moment in the frame when Selby benefited from an incorrect re-spot and was able to escape a tough snooker at the fourth time of asking. Ronnie O'Sullivan, speaking in the Eurosport studio, said it "ain't right" and said if he were Murphy he would have left his chair to question the situation before Selby took advantage.
Murphy once more closed the gap to two frames after sinking a long blue when Selby was requiring snookers, but just before the interval it was Selby who cleared up with a 107 – the first century of the final – to hold a 12-9 lead.
Another nervy frame followed the break, and after Murphy lead 14-0 he soon trailed 54-14 before missing a long red to allow Selby to seal it with a 50.
Selby held a four-frame lead for the first time in the final, but Murphy dug deep to stay within touching distance, recording a fine 100 to make it 13-10.
Murphy appeared to be geed up by the packed Crucible crowd, and though he needed a few visits to the table he was able to win the 24th frame and bring the gap back down to two once more.
The last frame of the session was arguably the most crucial of the final so far, and after a 62 put Selby in command, he closed it out with an entertaining 69 to restore his three-frame advantage.
Selby won the world title in 2014, 2016 and 2017, while Murphy is chasing a second triumph after winning in 2005.
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