• World Championship

Selby takes advantage of O'Sullivan carelessness

ESPN staff
May 5, 2014
Ronnie O'Sullivan failed to find any rhythm during Monday's afternoon session © Getty Images
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Mark Selby leads Ronnie O'Sullivan in the World Championship final at the Crucible after he recovered from a 10-5 deficit to move 12-11 in front ahead of Monday's concluding session.

Trailing 10-7 overnight, Selby moved within two frames with a solid 55 break before claiming his fourth successive frame with another visit of 52.

O'Sullivan could not find any rhythm at the table and soon saw Selby level the tie with an impressive 74. Despite being 8-3 and 10-5 down, Selby moved into the lead for a first time after he put to bed a scrappy 21st frame.

O'Sullivan turned to Dr Steve Peters during the interval but the Crucible crowd were left gasping after the 'Rocket' failed to cut in a simple red and extend his 50 break in frame 22. The nerves appeared contagious as both missed relatively routine shots on the yellow and green.

O'Sullivan, though, held on to record his first frame of the day and cease Selby's momentum at 11-11.

The defending champion should have been going into the evening session 12-11 in front; a 50-minute frame looked to be in O'Sullivan's hands until he inexplicably missed a simple pink.

Selby did not need a second invitation as he coolly finished both pink and black to steal the frame, momentum and lead ahead of the final session, which O'Sullivan goes into behind for the first time in his six Crucible finals to date.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd
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