• Snooker World Championship

Dott dominates Selby to lead 10-6

Gramem Dott equalled the highest break of the tournament held by Mark Allen. © Getty Images

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Graeme Dott fired the second 146 in Crucible history as he built-up a 10-6 lead over Mark Selby in their Snooker World Championship semi-final.

The Scot, who has looked fresh throughout this year's tournament despite two marathon matches in the earlier stages, was in inspired form and pounced on his opponent's mistakes clinically. Selby fought bravely to hang on but was unable to get close enough to cause Dott any real concern.

The 2007 runner-up came into the second session trailing 5-3 and fell further behind as his failure to convert a break of 54 into a winning clearance handed Dott the opening frame. The relatively open scoring of the opener would continue into the second frame of the session as both players ignored the safe option in favour of taking on the pot on every possible occasion. Dott this time grabbed the initiative and racked up 66, but a missed red gave Selby a chance and he duly cashed in with a frame-winning clearance of 63 to take the frame on the black.

Selby halved his opponent's lead with another half-century but Dott re-built his two-frame cushion, taking the 12th frame with a break of 81. The Scot brought the Crucible crowd to their feet in the next with a rousing 146 - equalling the highest break of the fortnight set by Mark Allen in the second round.

Perhaps riled by his opponent's explosive break, Selby looked nervous and missed a regulation safety shot. The mistake gave Dott the chance of a three-ball plant, but the Scot's poor attempt allowed Selby back in and he wrapped up the frame by clearing the colours.

Dott's response was resounding. A frame-winning break of 66 snuffed out Selby's 52-point lead in the penultimate frame, before Dott treated the Crucible audience again with an inch-perfect 86 to open up a four-frame lead.

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