DAQING, CHINA, Nov.3 (Xinhua) -- After just four frames in the night session, defending champion Mark Selby became the first finalist of 2017 World Snooker International Championship after defeating Martin Gould 9-3 here in Daqing, China on Friday.
Gould managed to win the first frame in the clash with World No. 1 78-30. However, that was his only winning frame of all eight frames in the afternoon session in the best-of-17 semifinal. Selby stormed the rest seven frames in a row to enjoy a sweet early 7-1 lead before supper, including 119-point and 127-point breaks performance in fourth and fifth frame.
Selby was one frame closer to the final after the 105-20 victory in the ninth frame. But Gould refused to give up the hope and dragged the match into the 12th frame in which Selby outscored him 91-25.
Another semifinal will be staged on Saturday between 17-year-old home player Yan Bingtao and Mark Allen. Selby said instead of taking a day off he will try to get some sleep, come to the venue to practice and watch the semifinal between them.
He refused to predict the result, only said:"Yan Bingtao and Mark Allen's game can go either way. It will be difficult to pick a winner. If I play Yan, it will be a tough final. If I play Mark, it will be a tough final. We'll see who wins tomorrow."
"I hope it goes 9-8 to finish on six o'clock in the morning, they both will be really, really tired." He joked.
When asked how did he think of the rising star Yan, who reached semifinal of ranking events for the first time in his career, Selby said:"I turned professional when I was 16, I remember. I think I got to the Scottish final when I was 19, a few years elder than Yan."
"He had fantastic talent, I think he is the next big thing since Ding Junhui in China. And being so young...17, semifinal is a fantastic achievement."
