Selby to meet Williams in quarters

World No.1 Mark Selby and former world snooker champion Mark Williams both came from way behind yesterday to set-up a quarterfinal meeting in the Masters. Selby was 5-1 behind against fellow Englishman Stuart Bingham before winning five frames in a row for a 6-5 victory at London’s Alexandra Palace. Although Selby won the first frame, several breaks of over 50 each helped Bingham into a 4-1 lead and that became 5-1 following a lengthy safety battle. But from the brink of defeat, Selby belatedly found some form with contributions of 57, 86 and 68 helping him level the match at 5-5. Bingham had the first chance in the final frame before a missed blue let Selby in and, although the Leicester cueman needed several chances, he went on to complete an improbable victory. Earlier, it was a similar story as Williams came from 4-1 down to beat Matthew Stevens in all-Welsh clash. Williams struggled in the opening frames and was on the verge of going down 5-1 behind. But Stevens missed a routine brown that would have put him four frames in front and then made several more errors as Williams won five frames in a row. “I didn’t play very well at all to be honest, neither did Matthew,” Williams told the BBC. “He missed a sitter of a brown for 5-1 and I don’t think I’d have come back from 5-1 to be honest. “Even though I wasn’t playing too well I was still trying 100 percent, and perhaps that’s what got me through in the end. “It’s easy to win when you are playing well, but it’s hard when you’re not playing too well and I was getting hammered out there really. I’m over the moon that I just stuck in there, tried my best and managed to turn it around somehow. “Matthew helped me out a lot, he missed a lot of balls he normally wouldn’t miss. Perhaps I dragged him down a bit and pounced on him. “Coming into this tournament I practised really hard and was probably playing the best I have for years and years, knocking 147s in every single day near enough. “I was quite confident coming up here and then I go out there I can’t make 47. If I can bring the practice to the match table I’ve got a chance.” , but I just can’t do it at the minute. I might be trying too hard.” From AFP