Mark Selby Dominates Ali Carter to Secure Masters Spot

Mark Selby delivered a stunning performance to defeat Ali Carter 6-1 and advance to the quarter-finals of the Masters at Alexandra Palace. The three-time champion showcased his skills with breaks of 62, 108 and 93, quickly taking control by winning the first four frames before the mid-session interval. Carter managed to claim one frame after the break but Selby continued his dominance with a superb 126 break and sealed the victory with a half-century.

Selby credited his recent form, noting that he brought his strong play from the Championship League into this high-pressure tournament. He will now face either Mark Allen or Si Jiahui in the quarter-finals. Earlier, Ding Junhui triumphed over Mark Williams 6-5 in a thrilling decider. After a shaky start, the match came to life after the interval. Williams a two-time Masters champion, led 3-2 before Ding fought back, making breaks of 64 and 60 to gain the upper hand.

Williams responded with a brilliant 136 break to level the match but Ding forced a decider with a 76. In the final frame, Ding sealed the win with a 90 break. Mark Selby dominated Carter, considered the best performance of the first round, capitalizing on his opponent’s mistakes including a costly error from Carter in the second frame. Selby has not reached the semi-finals of this event in over a decade.

However, his recent success including winning the British Open and strong showings at the Championship League, suggests he may be close to another major title. Ding, who secured his first ranking title in five years at the International Championship in November, feels buoyed by his recent form and hopes his victory over Williams will serve as a good omen for a run to the final.