UK Championship Snooker quarter-finals: Selby seeks Selt win
Published:
Lee Gormley | December 3, 2015
UK Championship quarter-finals evening session
- UK Championship
- Friday, December 4th
- Break-off: 19:00 GMT
- Barbican Centre, York
- Live on Eurosport
World number one Selby faces Selt
The UK Championship has reached the two-table set-up for the electrifying quarter-final stage and world number one Mark Selby is still going strong, as he prepares to contest Matthew Selt in their last eight encounter.
The Jester from Leicester rediscovered his fine form in the last 16 clash with Thailand’s Dechawat Poomjaeng, as he rallied to a ruthless 6-1 victory, with five 50-plus breaks capping off a stylish performance, following previous under-par showings.
Selby will now go head-to-head with Romford cueist Selt, who came through a gruelling match-up with Belgian prospect Luca Brecel, and the 2012 UK Championship winner is 13/8 with Coral to secure victory by three frames in the handicap market.
Selby returning to best form
Speaking after his classy Poomjaeng victory, Selby stated: “Winning is always great, but to play like that and win is even more special. I am very happy with the way I played.
“Every time I got a chance I seemed to win the frame in one visit. You can’t always play snooker like that, but it does put a marker down for other players. I probably shouldn’t have been in the last 16.”
His latest opponent, 30-year-old Selt, showed plenty of grit to battle back against Brecel late on Thursday night and he is 11/4 to cause an upset in York, in what would be his maiden triumph over the Leicester ace.
Selt seeks first ranking semi-final
The potting pair have met on three occasions during their careers, with the current world number one comfortably tasting success each time, including a dominant 10-4 coup at the 2013 World Championship. Having never dropped more than four frames against Selt, Selby is 5/1 to record a close 6-4 win this time around.
Selt’s appearance in the quarter-finals means he has already equalled his best ever ranking event finish, having reached this stage of four separate tournaments, including the Australian Goldfields Open this year, but he is 10/1 to earn a deciding frame win and edge into a maiden semi-final.
Gould contests Grace in other evening encounter
The revival of Martin Gould has continued up to the quarter-finals in York, as the 34-year-old overcame a slow start against Belfast potter Joe Swail to reach this stage against David Grace.
Gould admitted he felt pressure during the opening frames of his last 16 meeting with Swail, when he fell 1-0 and 2-1 behind early on, but he is now 17/4 to record a second successive 6-3 victory this time out.
“There was lot riding on it and it took me a little longer than I anticipated to settle down,” stated Gould, who had never previously been beyond the second round at the UK.
“Even though I made a good break to go 1-1, I just never felt I had completely settled.”
Leeds cueist Grace will look to cause another upset at the Barbican Centre though, having already dispatched former world champion Peter Ebdon, and the Yorkshireman is 3/1 to reach the semi-finals, while odds of 4/1 say there will be a deciding frame shooutout in this match-up.
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