Selby Dethroned by King

World number 16 Mark King put in one of his best displays of recent times to knock out defending champion Mark Selby in the opening round of the Masters.

King recovered from 2-0 down to defeat Selby, the world number six, 6-4.
The Essex player got back into it with a 139 break and led 4-2 before Selby levelled at 4-4 with a break of 106.
King then led 5-4 and in a tense 10th frame the players agreed to a re-rack and, despite an error, King recovered to clinch victory.
Selby had previously lost just one match at Wembley in three years, and that in the 2009 final against Ronnie O'Sullivan, a result he avenged in the title match 12 months ago for his second title after also triumphing in 2008.
But King, who will face Shaun Murphy or Jamie Cope in the quarter-finals, revealed it was what he perceived as a somewhat premature celebration from Selby which inspired his performance.
"Mark is a fantastic player and this is like his back yard, but he won the second frame and put his cue up and it gave me the hump a bit," King said.
"He was pleased to win it on the black but I thought, 'Hang on, you're only 2-0 up'."
King also was pleased that the hard work he has put in over the winter is finally paying dividends.
"I am the worst break-builder there is in the top 16," added the 36-year-old.
"I don't make tons, I get in and make 30 or 20, but ever since the UK Championship I have been really working on it and I went to China with Stephen Hendry and got a little bit of advice from him."

Selby after Hunter's record

Mark Selby hopes to match Paul Hunter’s achievement by winning the Masters three times in four years.

The Jester from Leicester defends his title in snooker’s most prestigious invitation tournament next month.

Selby has an amazing record in the Masters, winning it on his debut in 2008 and again last year, and reaching the final in 2009.

In all, he has won 11 of the 12 matches he has played in the event.

This season’s tournament runs from January 9 to 16 at Wembley Arena and Leicester’s Selby hopes to get level with the late Hunter, who lifted the trophy in 2001, 2002 and 2004.

“To win it for a third time in four years and match Paul’s achievement would be brilliant,” said Selby.

“I’ve got a very good record in the event, I love playing at Wembley and it tends to bring the best out of me.

“The atmosphere in the last two finals against Ronnie O’Sullivan is the best I’ve ever played in.

“Ronnie beat me in 2009 then I beat him last year, so it would be great to meet him in the final for a third time.

“The public might start to get bored of seeing us in the final every year, but I wouldn’t mind!”

Selby believes that the strength of the field makes the Masters harder than ever to win.

“The players are so sharp now because we’ve had a lot more tournaments, so the standard is higher than ever,” said the 27-year-old.

“Plus you’ve got the likes of John Higgins and Mark Williams right back in form, as they showed at the UK Championship.

“John has proved time and time again what a class player he is, and I never doubted that he would be back winning tournaments.

“There’s a very strong group of younger players like myself, Neil Robertson, Ding Junhui and Shaun Murphy who are all well capable of winning the big tournaments.

“I’ve been consistent this season and won a couple of smaller events, but I would love to go all the way at the Masters.”

Selby faces Mark King in the opening match of the tournament on Sunday, January 9 at 1.30pm.

Shock exit

Ronnie O'sullivan crashes out, of this years UK Championships in Telford. Ronnie who played Stuart Bingham, who is ranked at 23 in World, shouldn't have stood a chance against Ronnie.
   Ronnie however never looked at though he was truly in the match, just looking at him sat in the chair showed his mind was anywhere but on the match and the shots he took showed that. Stuart Bingham was two frames up as soon as the match started and though Ronnie clawed it back to 6-6 by the mid session interval, he didn't return to the table any clearer is mind on potting skill. Leaving Staurt to a relatively easy win at 9-6 to see him safely into the second round.

Holt Ends Higgins winning streak

Michael Holt won the biggest title of his career so far by beating John Higgins 4-3 in the final of Euro Players Tour Championship event six in Prague.

The World No 42 from Nottingham, a pro for 14 years, ended a run of 13 consecutive victories for Higgins, who returned to competitive snooker in style last week by winning EPTC5 in Germany.

Holt, age 32, became the 12th different winner in 12 events on the PTC series and leapt from 96th place on the Order of Merit into the top 24, thereby qualifying for the Grand Finals in March. He goes home with 10,000 Euros and is 2,000 ranking points better off.

"I've always said that I can play the game and I'm good enough to win things. In fact I stopped saying it because people thought I was lying," said Holt, who has never been beyond the quarter-finals of a full ranking event. "I just needed some confidence and to be able to handle the situation when it mattered.

"I did that today - I didn't get nervous or twitch a ball in the final, I felt great. I couldn't have had a tougher draw as I had to beat Stephen Maguire, Mark Selby and Shaun Murphy to get to the final. It's definitely the best moment of my career and hopefully I can kick on now and get up the rankings."

Holt dedicated victory to his dad Mick, who is recovering from a stroke he suffered two months ago. "He's very poorly and it's going to take him a long time to get better," said Holt. "He'll dig in like I did today. I can't wait to take the trophy home and show it to him."

Murphy finished top of the Order of Merit despite losing 4-3 in the semi-finals to Holt, from 3-1 up.

The full list of the 24 qualifiers for the PTC Grand Finals will be announced shortly.

The Hitman Floors Murphy

Michael Holt the Hitman, made a powerful come back in his match against Shaun Murphy he was 3-1 down and looked as though once again he had come so far but was to fail reaching a place in the final. Michael Came back hard and ended up winning 4-3 to book his place in the final against John Higgins. If the Hitman beats John Higgins he will earn himself a place in the top 24 in the order of merit.  

Hotline to cut Bribes

The John Higgins case is still a bleeding wound for the WPBSA, his future is now forever tarnished with doubts of his game play and whether or not he has thrown a game for money.  As Higgins returned the professional game play in Hamm at the EPTC 5 event, the WPBSA launched its anti- corruption hotline. This means that players can report any suspicious activity that could damage the snooker business, its credibility and transparency or even the honesty of a certain snooker player.
The WPBSA disciplinary chief David Douglas said: "It is a hotline and email service for the players that is anonymous or otherwise. The players can use it to report suspicious activities or to inquire about information about the rules and regulations. It is a case of the WPBSA being pro-active and making sure we are not arrogant to think that corruption is not a part, or could not be a part, of the sport."
 The integrity unit sounds like a great idea and will hopefully bring back the well respected name of the gentlemans sport, but there will always be the shadow of dout and with two players still being under suspicion but being aloowed to play, can th egame be fully cleaned up?

Higgins beats Murphy

 

The EPTC in Hamm welcomed John Higgings back to form as though the last 6 or so months haven't happened. Though fans are less than impressed at his return to the game, after casing it into disrepute, due to taking pay offs to throw games. Higgins returned to take the EPTC number one as he beat Shaun Murphy 4-2, looking throughout his seven matches as a pure winner, he really does have the fighting winning spirit back but does he still have the fans? That's an unknown at the moment.