Snooker Players

Australian Open 2011 - Quarter-Finals

It's the fifth day of the Australian Goldfields Open in Bendigo and the quarter-finals were held today. There were more shocks today as Stuart Bingham made it through the grudge match against Mark Allen and Ken Doherty beat Wuxi Classic champion Mark Selby.

Updated Tournament Draw

Day 5 - Quarter-Finals

Shaun Murphy 5-3 Matthew Selt

The first televised quarter-final of the day was between Shaun Murphy and Matthew Selt who had already impressed this week after beating Scot's John Higgins and Stephen Hendry and making his debut televised quarter-final appearance.

Shaun stormed into a 3-0 lead before Matthew came back to 3-2 including the highest break of the tournament so far, a 137. the next two frames were shared to leave Shaun only one away at 4-3 and he duly clinched the 8th to win the match 5-3.

Matthew Selt Australian Open 2011

"He was never going to go away without a fight," said Murphy. "We're good mates off the table and that makes it a tough game.

"I've learnt over the years that sometimes you play well and win pretty but sometimes you don't.

"I lost a couple of frames but he potted some great balls. I've got to the semi-finals and it's been a very pleasing start to the season.

"That was Matthew's first quarter-final in a ranking event and I remember my first quarter-finals. I felt it and that showed in the start but when he got going he rattled in a great 137. But I stuck to my task and am very pleased to get through.

"I knew it was his first quarter-final and I had to keep the pressure on and not gift him some silly chances. He's a great lad and a great attribute to our game."

Shaun Murphy Australian Open 2011

Mark Allen 3-5 Stuart Bingham

Shaun will play Stuart Bingham who came through his grudge match on the other table against Mark Allen. The two players have not hidden any dislike for each other in recent times after Bingham reacted angrily towards post-match comments said after their UK Championship quarter-final match which Mark won and he described Stuart as having "No bottle".

He certainly showed his bottle in this match though as from 2-1 down, Stuart made contributions of 65, 100, 100 and 90 to eventually win the match against the Northern Irishman 5-3. It's a great result for Stuart as he has reached his maiden televised ranking event semi-final and looks to be a good match for Shaun tomorrow.

Mark Allen

Image courtesy - World Snooker

"Mark's comments didn't upset me, it just gave me more drive," said Bingham. "At the start of the match it showed how much I wanted to do well and that's the worst I've played all week.

"But from 2-1 down I haven't missed a ball and it has gone 65, 100, 100, 90. People say I have no bottle so there you go.

"Mark is a great snooker player and you don't get to be in the top 16 for five years for nothing. Snooker player wise he is up there with the best, but off the table it's another thing.

"It fired me up 1,000 per cent and maybe that hindered me a bit. Once I calmed down I got into the scoring mode and you can see the result.

"At the end he said 'well played' and said 'shot' when I made good shots but he didn't get it back. I just got on with my job.

"I know I'm playing well enough to do some damage and I'm fighting away and in the semis.

"I thought I would be punching the air but I tried to let the snooker do the talking and I can't wait until tomorrow.

"For the last year I've been more consistent. At the PTCs I got to four quarter-finals so I've been knocking on the door at every tournament - someone will have to play well against me."

Stuart Bingham Australian Open 2011

Mark Williams 5-4 Dominic Dale

The televised match in the evening session was between two Welsh players and good friends, world no.1 Mark Williams and the 2007 Shanghai Masters champion Dominic Dale. Dominic already upsetted the home favourite; Neil Robertson in the last round and was looking to do the same against the German Masters champion.

He got off to a good start by winning the first two frames to lead Mark 2-0 but the Welsh Potting Machine hit back with back to back centuries of 118 and a fabulous 140 to level the match. Dominic made a few nice breaks including an 87 to win two of the next three frames to lead 4-3. Mark won the 8th which was a more scrappy affair.

Mark Williams Leo Scullion and Dominic Dale Australian Open 2011

In the decider Dominic had very few chances as it didn't take Mark long to compile his third century of the match, a marvellous 142 which is the current tournament highest break to win the match 5-4. It has been a great week all-in-all for Dominic who has had a resurgence of sorts in the past few years and looks to be safe in the top 32 for a while to come. Mark will definitely be the favourite to take the title with the form he showed in this match.

"I went 2-0 down and hadn't done too much wrong then I made two centuries to get it to 2-2," said Williams.

"I made a nice break in the last and I needed it as if I had missed on 60 with the way he was playing he would've cleared up.

"But I'm over the moon to win and I potted well tonight. The last two matches have been a massive improvement from the first one which was awful. By the time I get used to the jet lag it will be time to fly home.

"The crowds are really good and the tables are playing fantastically. It's nice to play on tables where they're playing so well and you're seeing some high breaks.

"I'm just excited to be in the semi-finals. I haven't played out here for 20 years and it's been excellent to be back, hopefully I can go all the way."

Mark Williams Australian Open 2011

Mark Selby 3-5 Ken Doherty

Mark Williams will face Ken Doherty who came through against Mark Selby in possibly the shock of the tournament. Selby looked to be the man in form going in to this event as he recently won the Wuxi Classic in China but the plucky Irishman who is a regular face on the BBC commentary team won the match.

Ken found himself 3-1 ahead at the interval and then quickly held a strong 4-1 lead. The Jester from Leicester wasn't going down without a fight thought and came back to 4-3 behind but Ken got the better of the Mark in the next frame to record a 5-3 win over the current provisional world no.1.

Mark Selby Australian Open 2011

This win for Ken means he is in to his first semi-final of a ranking event since reaching the 2006 Malta Cup final. Ken revealed to World Snooker that he even nearly considering quitting the game at one stage as his world ranking dropped to 55th.

"I felt like packing it in at one stage when I never qualified for the Crucible (in 2009), admitted Doherty, who is currently 28th in the world but set to rise after this event.

"I was in qualifying tournaments and only won one match all season and I thought it was the end of the road.

"To be honest I haven't got a clue what I would've done but I would've still been involved in snooker.

"Now I have a bit more self confidence and I know I can compete ok but I'm not as consistent as I was.

"I have my Australian family here cheering me on and my son Christian watching me in the front row.

"The game is so psychological and if you have the mindset right and body relaxed that will help you play well."

"It was a superb victory over Mark Selby. From the beginning of the match I had the attitude that I was going to go out there with nothing to lose and I felt very relaxed, as relaxed as I've been for a long time.

"From 57 behind with only four reds left to win it was my best clearance as a professional. In 20 years I've made some good ones but to close out the match from that position that was the best."

Ken Doherty World Championship 2011 Snooker