Jester has the last laugh over Doherty
Mark Selby closed out a 10-4 win over Ken Doherty to move through to the Last 16 of the Betfred.com World Championship.
Leading 6-3 overnight, it was always going to be an uphill battle for the Irishman and when Selby pieced together 39 and 43 to take the first frame of the day, it left Doherty with a mountain to climb.
They shared the next two frames as Selby made 82 and Doherty countered with 61. Selby turned on the style to close out the match with 80, followed by an eleven-red-eleven-black 81.
Doherty tipped Selby as a potential champion after the match.
"I've got to put my hands up and say that I was beaten by a player who is at the top of his game.
"Mark [Selby] played great throughout the match. He scored heavy and consistently. His safety is strong and tactically he's up there with the best.
"It was tough for me out there over the two sessions because I was punished for every single error that I made, no matter how small the error was I got punished. I didnt miss many balls, but I was comprensively beaten by Mark, who has got a very good chance of winning the title this year.
"For me he is up there with the likes of O'Sullivan, Higgins, Ding and Williams.
"The reception I received when I was introduced yesterday was fantastic. This is the place of my greatest achievment, and I was so pleased to return here that I kissed the carpet as if to say, 'it's good to be back'. I have so many good memories from the Crucible, that I will always cherish.
"I'm looking forward to next season and hopefully to have more tournaments to play in.
"It will be nice not to be a part-time professional. Obviously the players have got a lot to think about this month, with the proposal that Barry Hearn has put forward. We need to get answers to all our questions. So we will have to see what the outcome is."
Mark Selby looked every inch a champion-in-waiting throughout the match, which was a potential banana skin for him and he was upbeat after his win
"Ken [Doherty] is a former winner, he's been here and done it so I knew I would have to be on top of my game otherwise I'd be going home.
"I've proved it in the past that I've got the game to win it but it's very difficult to do over a two week period, it's a matter of trying to stay fresh and put in as much hard work as you can.
"I did an interview back home before I came away and said I could possibly play a former World Champion in every single round if I went on to win it, so quite an easy draw really!
"It's going to be a tough game in the next round whoever I play and the round after that, you expect that when you're playing the best players in the world.
Selby had a chance of a maximum in the last frame of the match but he missed a black on 81.
"I knew it wasn't going to be easy. It would have been if I hadn't fallen over, once I'd potted frame ball and started thinking about it I collapsed like a cheap tent!
"The history, the roll of honour and knowing that you've made one would have been a massive honour."
