World champion Selby survives first-round scare
Print Edition
MARK Selby kept the “Curse of the Crucible” at bay but only just as he launched the defense of his world championship title with a dramatic 10-9 first-round win over qualifier Kurt Maflin on Saturday.
It had looked as if Selby, who beat five-time champion Ronnie O’Sullivan to win a maiden world crown last year, was easing to an opening-day victory as he went 8-4 up in the best of 19 frames match at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield. However, the London-born but Oslo-based Maflin had other ideas, winning five frames in a row to lead 9-8 and be on the brink of a sensational upset before Englishman Selby fought back.
His victory meant Selby, 31, avoided, for the time being at least, the so-called “Curse of the Crucible” which has seen no first-time champion successfully defend the world title the following year since the tournament moved to the Sheffield venue, in northern England, back in 1977.
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