Shaun Murphy will do battle with Mark Selby on Sunday over the best of 19 frames to decide who will be crowned 2012 willianhill.com UK Champion after the Leicester man defeated Mark Davis 9-4 at the Barbican Centre in York tonight.
After all the drama of the last few days we wondered what today would bring but in truth from early on it was obvious that this one was only going to go one way.For Mark Davis ,playing in his first major semi final after 21 years on the circuit,, to have a chance he needed to settle early and that just didn't happen.Selby won the first two frames to go 2-0 and although Davis did win the next he still trailed 3-1 at the interval.
Selby was still not playing at his absolute peak but wasn't having to as Davis just couldn't find the form that had got him this far in the tournament as. 3-1 quickly became 5-1.To his credit Davis cheered on by the crowd managed to win the next to go 5-2 but Selby won the last of the session to take a commanding 6-2 lead into the evening.
Davis now needed a fast start to keep his slim hopes alive but missed an easy red when well in and Selby cleared up 7-2.The next two frames were shared to make it 8-3 and the end looked in sight. Davis did at least manage to avoid the indignity of defeat before the interval .which considering his play this week would have been undeserved.but there was to be no miracle comeback from 8-4 tonight.as Selby won the next to seal the 9-4 victory
Davis will be disappointed he didn't do himself justice in this one as understandably the occasion possibly got to him.He can still reflect on a great week though that included a win over John Higgins and indeed a great season that has seen him now secure a place in the worlds top 16 for the first time.No one can say after 21 years as a pro that it is not deserved.
Selby on the other hand may well be wondering how he has gotten to the final after looking dead and buried on more then one occasion this week.. He hasn't been at his best by any means but has confirmed what a great match player his is with some gutsy displays.Although this win means he will regain the position of World no.1 he will be well aware that he needs to step up on what he has shown this week to live with Shaun Murphy in the final.
This one could be a classic and a bit of late Sunday nigh drama is what this tournament deserves after what has been an extraordinary week.
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