Selby fights back in front of near-full Crucible
Battling Mark Selby produced a rousing Sunday night comeback to keep Shaun Murphy at arm’s length in the World Championship final.
With the Crucible almost full under the night lights, both players exchanged regular blows as Selby fought back to lead 8-7.
Murphy led for much of the final’s opening day but a characteristically gutsy performance from Selby, 37, reeled the world No 7 in.
Murphy, 38, came out of the blocks the quicker of the pair and hauls of 57 and 67 points propelled him into a 2-0 advantage.
World No 4 Selby battled back, however, as he pinched an edgy third frame before a 89 in frame four levelled the scores.
Murphy hit back with a fine visit of 75 in the fifth but Selby notched a total of 66 points in the sixth to restore parity again.
The Crucible was around 60 per cent full during the afternoon and the crowd were treated to a fluent final two frames of the session from Murphy, who rattled in breaks of 64 and 52 to take a 5-3 lead.
More fans had bought tickets for the Sunday night and with the Sheffield venue almost at capacity, it was Selby who struck first.
He knocked in a majestic break of 85 but Murphy responded as a fine 98 of his own re-established his two-frame advantage.
But Selby hit back as consecutive visits of 67 and 86 made it six frames apiece.
A visit of 64 from Murphy then restored his narrow lead before Selby made a gutsy 57 of his own to bring about parity again.
And he took the lead for the first time in the match in the 15th frame as a fluent 90 left Murphy slumped in his chair.