Mark Selby defied all odds to stage a remarkable comeback in the final of the 2021 Snooker World Championship.

In the first session of the 2021 World Snooker Championship final, Shaun Murphy established a 5-3 lead over Mark Selby. The 2005 World Championship took advantage of a slip-up from Selby to give himself a healthy lead over Selby. However, three-time World Championship winner, Mark Selby did a terrific job by overturning the deficit in the evening session.

Selby began the second session on the front foot, and quickly got a frame of 85 to make it 5-4. But a century of 98 from Murphy restored his two-frame lead. Murphy missed the brown, and concedes, which put Selby just one behind again. In no time, a hard-fought 86 from Selby leveled the match to 6-6.

Murphy again got a lead with a break of 64, but Selby got a 57 to put the game level at 7-7.

Subsequently, Selby emptied the table for a break of 90 and took the lead in this final for the first time. The Jester from Leicester also won the next two frames and secured a 10-7 lead.

It was an incredible session for Selby. He won by 7-2 in the evening session and has now gotten a three-frame lead in this final.

It is worthy to note that, Selby really established a pattern in this match. He was lethal, decisive, precise, and punished Murphy’s mistakes. Shaun ‘The Magician’ Murphy that eliminated Kyren Wilson last night was not given any opportunity to gain momentum. Murphy played into Selby’s hands by trying to play Selby’s game tonight and was destroyed. If he hopes to change the situation in the next session,  he will have to change his approach.

Written by: Collins Nwokolo