O'Sullivan capitalises on Selby errors

Mark Selby let Ronnie O'Sullivan off the hook as an intriguing first session between two of snooker's most potent potters was littered with mistakes and finished all square.

The Betfred.com World Championship quarter-final was expected to be a thriller following the superb Masters final which the pair contended in January, but it did not begin in the manner of that Wembley match, which Selby won 10-9 from 9-6 down.

O'Sullivan had been majestic in the concluding session to his match against Mark Williams on Monday, making three centuries and giving the impression he was finally enjoying his stay in Sheffield, only to then offer a depressing assessment of his chances.

On Tuesday afternoon Selby looked to be getting under O'Sullivan's skin and the quality was low as both players missed easy balls.

O'Sullivan finished off with a break of 81 to draw level at 4-4, but his potting was as unpredictable as his behaviour.

At one stage in frame three O'Sullivan sat in the front row with journalists while Selby played a shot, to the amusement of the audience, and then he left his seat to watch events on the other table for several minutes, peering around the curtain to check on Ali Carter and Shaun Murphy.

Those expecting a high-tempo match filled with century breaks were left to wonder what the two men were playing at during the first frame, which dragged on for 42 minutes and 17 seconds.

It contained nine fouls and a top break of 35, with the next highest break worth just eight. O'Sullivan finally took it, and thankfully the standard then improved a touch.

Selby fired in an 84 after both men had spurned earlier chances in the second frame, and the Leicester man then took advantage of more slackness from O'Sullivan to edge ahead.

Going into the match Selby had indicated he would not be making any special plans for O'Sullivan. He was certainly in no rush to play at the same pace as the three-time former world champion though.