Selby storms clear of Williams as McGill leads Bingham in World Championship Quarter-Finals

Jamie Shaw in World Snooker Championship 27 April 2021

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Selby and Williams collide (Photo by Zac Goodwin/PA Wire/PA Images)

Mark Selby opened up a commanding 6-2 lead over Mark Williams following the first session of their World Championship Quarter-Final at The Crucible.

In the battle of the three-time World Champions, it was Selby who stamped his authority in the early stages thanks to a vintage display of break-building.

The Leicester ace left his opponent pointless in the opening two frames thanks to breaks of 56 and 121 before adding a 63 to make it three on the spin.

Williams got off the mark before the interval with a break of 60, but Selby restored a three-frame cushion before compiling breaks of 90 and 76 to stretch his lead to 6-1.

However, Williams dug deep and produced a terrific break of 111 to clinch the final frame of the session and stop the rot.

Elsewhere, Anthony McGill is also in the ascendancy going into Wednesday’s action in Sheffield after opening up a 9-7 lead over Stuart Bingham.

McGill, who edged out Ronnie O’Sullivan in an epic decider in the Last 16, started the match brightly by securing the opening two frames.

Bingham, though, hit back with breaks of 60, 64 and 122 to move ahead before the Scot restored parity by virtue of a break of 64.

Bingham’s second century of the match saw him fire in a break of 108, but McGill responded by taking the final frame of the first session to square it up at four apiece.

A dominant start to the evening session saw Bingham secure the opening two frames with a top break of 81, but the tide quickly turned as McGill hit back with sublime breaks of 126 and 83 to make it six-all.

A clinical break of 120 saw Bingham briefly retake the lead, but only for McGill to reply with consecutive contributions of 92, 130 and 75 to move two clear heading into Wednesday’s climax.

Former World Champions Judd Trump and Shaun Murphy are locked level at four apiece following a high quality first session.

Trump set his stall out with a break of 87 before Murphy got off and running with quick-fire breaks of 80 and 79 to lead 2-1.

A 68 break saw Trump level, and after Murphy had made an 81 to edge back in front, the world number one took the next two frames with a top break of 105 to make it 4-3.

Murphy responded well with a break of 67 to leave the tie finely-poised for when they resume on Wednesday afternoon.

Another deadlock sees Neil Robertson and Kyren Wilson head into their final session all-square at eight apiece.

A day of two halves saw Robertson take the opening session 5-3 before Wilson returned the favour in the evening to restore parity.

Robertson fired in high breaks of 100 and 105 on his way to a 4-1 lead before Wilson stopped the rot with a break of 76 in frame six.

The pair exchanged the final two frames of the session to leave Robertson two clear, but a pivotal moment saw Wilson edge an hour-long first frame of the evening on a re-spotted black to cut the deficit.

Wilson then won two of the next three frames, with a break of 60 bringing him back on level terms at six apiece at the interval.

The standard improved after the restart as Robertson sprung into life with a blistering break of 126, but broke down on 50 in the following frame and allowed Wilson to steal for 7-7.

A break of 53 was enough to move ‘The Warrior’ into the lead, but Robertson replied with a 66 to set up a gripping climax on Wednesday morning.

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