This afternoon’s match between close friends Stephen Maguire and Ryan Day was by all accounts fairly dire but tonight’s battle of the Marks has been much more entertaining…
Results from Global Snooker:
Stephen Maguire 6-1 Ryan Day
72(50)-25, 20-65(37), 83(55)-37, 67-66,98-26 62-53 (62) 76-46 (61)
Mark Selby 6-5 Mark Allen
51-43, 68(67)-18, 139(46,93), 1-120(114), 1-82(82), 52(52)-72(36), 63(50)-20, 16-85(52), 6-76(40), 66-25, 63-17
Having both come through their opening matches looking to be playing relatively well, both Stephen Maguire and Ryan Day struggled for form today, though the former was able to kick on after the interval and score heavily enough to earn a 6-3 victory.
He will have to improve for his semi-final however, regardless of who he plays as both Mark Selby and Mark Allen are looking in good touch tonight as they currently stand level at 3-3. 2008 champion Selby actually led 3-0 at one point but breaks of 114, 82 and 36 have seen his opponent from Northern Ireland level things up with a possible five frames to follow…
And for the sixth time in his eleven matches at Wembley (and the second time against Mark Allen), Mark Selby has come through to win in a deciding frame! See my semi-final preview for more.
As an aside it is good to see Michaela back refereeing again after a family bereavement last week.