Davis beaten by Selby in quarters

Mark Davis's progress in the Australian Goldfields Open was halted by Mark Selby. Picture courtesy World Snooker

St Leonards-based Davis recovered from 3-0 down to draw level at 3-3 only for UK and Masters champion Selby to win the subsequent two frames for a 5-3 victory in Bendigo, Victoria.

Selby took the opener 68-44 with a top break of just 25 and a run of 60 gave him the second 69-37 after 16th-ranked Davis had been 28 points in front. Selby then rattled through the third 75-0 after an opening 48.

But back came Davis, winning the fourth 74-20 helped by 48, the fifth 77-31 with the aid of a 47 and the sixth 81-44 thanks to a closing 66 after Selby had gone in front. Selby won the seventh 61-0, however, with a 43 and sealed victory by bagging the eighth 79-36 following an initial 65.

It means Davis, who scraped past Paul Davison 5-4 in round one on Wednesday before overcoming Alfie Burden 5-3 in round two yesterday, misses out on a second successive semi-final in the Australian Goldfields Open.

Davis told worldsnooker.com: “I just missed a couple of tricky balls and I was 3-0 down. I got back to 3-3, but then he kept me quiet for the last two frames and that’s what the top players do. I feel as if I’m not playing as well as I can, but I keep battling and that has won me a few matches. I hope we’ll be back next year because the crowds and the conditions have been great.”