World Snooker Championship 2023: Mark Allen claims early lead over Mark Selby in semi-final
Last updated on .From the section Snooker
| Cazoo World Championship |
|---|
| Venue: Crucible Theatre, Sheffield Dates: 15 April-1 May |
| Coverage: Watch live on BBC TV and Red Button with uninterrupted coverage on BBC iPlayer, the BBC Sport website and the BBC Sport app |
Mark Allen claimed a 5-3 lead over Mark Selby in an absorbing first session of their World Championship semi-final.
England's Selby, who is aiming for a fifth world crown, began ominously with a sublime break of 123.
Northern Ireland's Allen replied with two half-centuries and compiled three more after the mid-session interval to edge ahead.
Earlier on Thursday China's Si Jiahui took a 5-3 lead over Luca Brecel as their last-four meeting got under way.
Selby, who is competing in his eighth semi-final in snooker's blue-riband event, was installed as the favourite to win the tournament after his dominant victory over fellow four-time champion John Higgins on Wednesday.
However, he found it heavy going against UK champion Allen, 37, who has arguably been the player of the season so far and is trying to complete a career Triple Crown in Sheffield, having also previously won the Masters.
The Northern Irishman, who is appearing in only his second Crucible semi-final some 14 years on from his first, matched Selby in the tactical department of the game where the 22-time ranking-title winner is usually so dominant.
While Allen was severely punished for a missed red to the left corner in the opener he won key safety exchanges in the next two, including a humorous exchange on a red near the middle pocket to reply with runs of 63 and 66.
Selby, 39, regained the initiative with 68 in the fifth frame before Allen rattled off breaks of 64, 60 and 78 to claim a slender advantage.
Si's star continues to rise
In the afternoon session Brecel took the opener with a break of 50 but Si then took control with two century clearances and a run of 97 as he reeled off four frames in a row.
Belgium's Brecel countered with runs of 72 and 69 but saw China's Si pinch the final frame on the black.
A year ago Si was not even on the professional tour and as a debutant he had to win three qualifying matches to reach the Crucible - playing 113 frames to Brecel's 66 on his way to the last four.
The world number 80 is also the lowest ranked player to ever reach this stage of the tournament, although Welshman Terry Griffiths won it as an unranked qualifier at the first attempt in 1979.
Yet the 20-year-old still made a formidable start, showing no trace of nerves or fatigue despite only clinching his last-four berth in a tense final-frame decider against Scotland's Anthony McGill late on Wednesday evening.
After watching Brecel rattle through the first frame, Si went to work, producing three superbly composed breaks of 125, 102 and 97 before showcasing his already impressive match-play to go 4-1 ahead.
Brecel, who infuriatingly for his supporters failed to capitalise on several early chances to turn those frames in his favour, responded excellently and looked poised to draw level but he failed to knock in a difficult long pink after a stunning pot on the blue, allowing his opponent to tidy up.
Analysis - 'Brecel won't be that worried'
Six-time world champion Steve Davis, speaking on BBC Two
What an entertaining session. Si could have had a bigger lead if he had kept the heat on his opponent.
But Luca won't be that worried because you know how well he can come out fighting from behind.
Sign up to My Sport to follow snooker news on the BBC app.
- How to get cheap flight tickets: Martin Lewis gives us his top tips...
- Releasing Keiko, the killer whale of 'Free Willy': The story of how the Hollywood icon was let back into the wild
