Mark Selby completed an impressive performance to defeat Stephen Hendry 13-5 and book a quarter-final berth at the Betfred.com World Snooker Championship as the tournament enters the business end of affairs.
Selby had done the damage in the middle session taking seven of the eight frames to open a commanding lead that he would never relinquish.
Hendry had started the match in fine style but would have been diasppointed to come out of it at 4-4. Selby scrapped his way back and continued into the next session.
The World no.7 scored heavily and frequently, keeping Hendry off the table for long periods of time. The Leicester player required only two frames and duly got them in 35 minutes. Through to the last eight for the second successive year and third time in all he faces pre-tournament favourite, Ronnie O'Sullivan.
The two last met in the Wembley final in which Selby took the honours.
Post match reaction
Mark Selby
I was more than pleased, I think the way I played in that first session I didn't deserve to be in front so to come out at 4-4 it felt like I was in front. Stephen played not as good as he done in the past but better than me but I managed to hang in there and come out at 4-4 so was delighted with that.
Second session I did most of the damage, I scored at every opportunity I had. Tonight I seemed a bit flat going out there because I knew if I mind my work I'd get over the line so it was dificult but I got over the line.
I played well against Ken and I showed in patches against Stephen in the second sesssion but I need to be more consistent in the longer matches especially against Ronnie.
I will approach it like any other match, go in with the confidence and self belief that I can go on and win the game. If I play my own game and play well I can win the game.
If I approach a game differently and change my plan that will effect me as well. Ronnie hasn't got many weaknesses so it would be hard to pick any out.
I'd rather not play him at all, more often than not you expect to find Ronnie at the latter end of tournaments so if he's in your half you expect to have to play him at somepoint.
By winning tournaments I've proven I'm more of a complete play, you can't fluke winning tournaments so I have proven I'm more of a complete player.
Stephen Hendry
I had the biggest breaks in the first session bit I would'nt say that I out played him at all. I did lose a bad when leading 4-2 but that didn't affect the match. I played here enough to know that one frame should not play such a big part in the outcome of a 25 frame match.
The whole match I was never focused like in the last three frames in my first round match against Zhang Anda when 9-7 down.
It is very frustrating, not being able to have that focus from the start of a match.
He played well but by the same token it's easy to play well, when your opponent is not, which was the case in this match.
It's hard to keep putting performances in like that, when your used to so much success but I'll be back again next year
