Dafabet Masters: Shaun Murphy defeats world champion Mark Selby in first round
Last Updated: 11/01/15 11:18pm
Shaun Murphy held his nerve in a gripping finish to eliminate world champion Mark Selby from the Dafabet Masters.
Murphy needed just one further frame to secure a quarter-final place when he led 5-1 but Selby won four successive frames to force a decider, and then had chances to complete a stunning comeback.
But a missed black proved critical as Selby presented his good friend with a match-winning chance that the 32-year-old gladly accepted to wrap up a 6-5 victory.
Selby began Sunday's tussle on the opening day at the north London venue in impressive fashion, rattling in a break of 100 after being left a free ball in the opening frame.
Back came Murphy, initially by winning a pair of scrappy frames but then with runs of 92, 55 and 56 that saw him almost to the point of victory.
Selby then underlined his status as a fearsome counter-attacker as he pulled out two frames in quick succession, making a 120 break in the process.
Murphy might have tied up victory in the ninth frame when he led 44-12, but he missed a black that should have been tucked away and Selby fired in a merciless 54 before ploughing in 92 to level the match.
The match became tense, with both men missing straightforward balls with the match on the line, and when Selby failed to sink a black he offered Murphy the big opportunity to put the previous four frames behind him.
The Sale-based potter suddenly looked sharp and a snappy break of 40 put him 51 points up with 35 left, with Selby left to scratch around for a handful of snookers.
They would not come for the 31-year-old and Selby's race was run when Murphy knocked in the final red.
