World Snooker Championship: 'I've lost a bit of respect for him' - Stuart Bingham on Mark Selby play
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Updated 02/05/2021 at 14:43 GMT
Three-time world champion Mark Selby got the better of fellow former Crucible victor Stuart Bingham in their five-session semi-final on Saturday night with a 17-15 win but his opponent says he has lost some respect for the Leicester player's style of play. Bingham told Eurosport that he feels as though Selby can sometimes turn to "gamesmanship".
Bingham has 'lost a bit of respect' for Selby after semi-final play
Stuart Bingham has said that he has "lost a bit of respect" for rival Mark Selby due to his style of play and "gamesmanship" in their World Snooker Championship semi-final.
Selby reached the final at the Crucible as he won 17-15 in a marathon semi-final that required a staggering five sessions and more than 11 hours to complete.
Selby is renowned for his less-than-speedy play and penchant for extended tactical battles. By the end of the fifth and final session of the seemingly interminable clash, the 2005 world champion appeared to be totally fed up with what had unfolded.
"That's Selby, that's what he is known for," Bingham told Eurosport, in reference to his semi-final opponent's slow play, before going on to say he was also not a fan of him celebrating before completing a crucial frame.
"I don't know if it's a bit of gamesmanship or what, but he obviously did a number and slowed me down. You look back at things like that, and he's had to do that to beat me.
You learn about yourself and you learn about your opponent. I thought we had a bit more respect for each other, and to celebrate before he had potted game ball, I've maybe lost a bit of respect for him.
"I wouldn't do that, so I suppose I don't expect other people to do it. For me it's obviously put a bit of a sour taste on the match."
In an earlier interview, live on Eurosport on Saturday night, Bingham said: "It was maybe on the brink of a bit of gamesmanship.
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Bingham frustrated with Selby 'gamesmanship' in Crucible semi-final
"Some of the shots, three minutes, then just trickle into the reds. It's probably [too much]. I think everyone wanted to get out of there [when Selby played on requiring multiple snookers].
"It is what it is. Last night, I didn't mind and I was playing with a smile on my face. Today, it just didn't seem to happen for me."
Asked if Selby's theatrical reaction to getting away with a wild fluke earlier in the day provoked a reaction in him, Bingham felt like it did.
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Selby can't believe his luck with 'spectacular' fluke against Bingham
Obviously I had a bit of a run [of luck] yesterday and I put my hand up. The antics he did after that were a bit out of order, but it is what it is.
"People don't see their own luck. He has had so many nice nudges in that match and it is one of those things. But I had my chances and that's all you can want, and I didn't take them."
Selby denied the accusations from his opponent and insisted that, not only has he never attempted any gamesmanship, but he only tries to do his best in every match.
"I've never ever tried to do any kind of stuff like gamesmanship, ever in my life, in any match," Selby insisted in an interview with Eurosport.
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'I've never tried gamesmanship ever' - Selby on Bingham accusations
"I just go out there and try my hardest and that's all I do. My dad always instilled in me, 'just go out there and give everything until the last ball is potted - at least you can hold your hands up and say you've got no regrets, you've not just given it to them'.
"So that was my intention to go out there; you can't predict how the game is going to go; you can't predict how the balls are going to go.
Stuart has probably just said that in the heat of the moment because he has lost.
"We were both on 28 seconds-per-shot, which is slow, but he can't really call me out for being slow when he is at the same shot time."
Selby is now taking on Shaun Murphy after the 2005 world champion sealed his path through to the final at the Crucible with a 17-12 win over Kyren Wilson.
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You can watch every match of the World Snooker Championship live and ad-free on the Eurosport App and eurosport.co.uk. Download the Eurosport app now for iOS and Android.
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