Ronnie O'Sullivan masters Mark Selby to make final four at Alexandra Palace

Ronnie O'Sullivan produced a superb display to beat Mark Selby 6-3 in the quarter-finals of the Masters at Alexandra Palace.

Selby was on the back foot throughout, but fought hard to get into position to win the ninth frame and make the score 5-4.

But a crucial missed cannon saw him fall short of clinching it, and O'Sullivan produced a superb clearance to the black to win the match.

Selby, who beat O'Sullivan in the World Championship final in 2015, had admitted that he was particularly looking forward to one of the game's most notorious grudge matches, with little love being lost between the two over the years.

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But it was O'Sullivan who took charge of the match from the start, winning three of the opening four frames.

Selby pulled one back after the interval only for O'Sullivan to make a century in the next to and follow up with another to lead 5-2.

Again, Selby closed the gap with a 68 break to trail 5-3 and seemed likely to push the match all the way.

But O'Sullivan seized on his opponent's mistake to close out the match, showing off some outstanding potting despite occasional shaky positional play - including on the final blue - as he made his way into the semi-finals.

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