Mark Selby strolled past his opponent, David Gilbert, to book a spot in the Scottish Open final despite making a slow start to the semi-final encounter which took place in Glasgow, Scotland.

Following that lethargic start for both players, Mark Selby soon established his control of the game, dictating its pace at will. Selby took total control in the third frame before going on to win with the tie, thanks to runs of 76, 84, 132, and 69.

The Englishman who ousted five-time World Champion Ronnie O’Sullivan in the last-8 is poised to lock horns with Jack Lisowski, who was responsible for beating Mark Allen in the finals of the Scottish Open.

The matchup between Selby and Gilbert was a nervy and tense encounter in its first couple of minutes, as evident in poor break offs for both players in the first two frames of the tie. Both frames were cagey, but Selby managed to come out tops, edging his opponent by little margins.

However, it was in the third frame where the world number six showed the quality he is made of, reeling a break of 73 that he showed himself in full command of the tie. With a clearance of 84 in the fourth frame, there was no discussion about a comeback for Gilbert. It was definitely far from over!

Gilbert, though, showed some tough skin in the fifth frame with some breaks of 64 and 66 helping him come out tops. Selby, unfazed by that win, went on to win the sixth frame with an incredible total clearance of 132.

Gilbert resurfaced in the seventh frame, aiming to stand his ground but eventually succumbed to the impressive technique of Selby. Though the frame was evenly contested, world number six went on to win the frame with a clearance of 132.

Mark Selby, after the game, said he sees an improvement in his play over the course of the tournament. However, he maintains that he’s been a bit on and off. In his words:
“I keep going in and out of focus. I’m focussed until I think I’ve won the frame, and then I slack off, which I shouldn’t do.”

Written by: Roland Arum