• China Open

Selby eases past Murphy into China final

ESPN staff
March 30, 2013
Mark Selby was comfortable against Shaun Murphy © PA Photos
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Returning world No. 1 Mark Selby remains on course for a maiden China Open title after he defeated Shaun Murphy to reach the final on Saturday.

Selby - who will return to the top of the rankings after reaching the quarter-finals earlier this week - has gone the distance once before in Beijing, when he was beaten by Judd Trump in the 2011 final. He will have the chance to go one better on Sunday.

Facing former world champion Murphy - who had sneaked into the last-four, Selby proved himself the better match player with a 6-2 victory.

His highest break was a mediocre 68, but that bettered anything Murphy had to offer as the Whiston Warrior managed a high of 50. Selby built leads of 3-0 and 5-2, closing the match out with some comfort.

He will face Neil Robertson in the final, after Robertson beat Stephen Maguire 6-5. The Australian was dictated to for long periods of the second semi, with Maguire leading 4-2 and 5-4, but Robertson dug in to snatch the final two frames.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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