MARK SELBY HAS DEFEATED Neil Robertson 17-15 to reach his second Snooker World Championship final.
The Leicester player first reached the final in 2007 but has finally returned to the Crucible’s top table after seven years of striving yet falling short.
The last four encounter was a tense affair and lasted over 12 hours but Selby out-lasted Robertson to progress. Selby trailed 2-1 earlier in the epic encounter but bounced back to lead 9-6.
His Australian opponent won seven of the next 10 frames to edge 13-12 ahead before Selby regained his potting composure. He won a lengthy 3oth frame 74-29 after a break of 54 and a protracted bout of tactical back-and-forth.
Robertson, a former world champion, displayed some steel to record a break of 108 to take the match into its 32nd frame.
It proved to be the final frame, however, as Selby compiled a break of 74 to see out the tie. He fill face defending champion Ronnie O’Sullivan in the final, over Sunday and Monday.
