Haikou World Open: Mark Selby to play Shaun Murphy in final

Image source, PA

Shaun Murphy will play Mark Selby in an all-England final of the Haikou World Open after narrow semi-final victories.

Murphy knocked in breaks of 74 and 69 as he opened a 3-1 lead over double defending champion Mark Allen, who stayed in contention and made a century to trail 5-4 before losing the 10th.

Selby held off a fightback from Hong Kong's Marco Fu to also win 6-4.

Fu won three frames in succession from 5-1 down and led 58-31 in the 10th but Selby cleared to take the win in China.

The world number two had raced into a 4-0 lead with a top break of 74 before Fu hit back with a 70 but Selby took the next to go 5-1 ahead.

Fu made in breaks of 50 and 104 as he won the next three before Selby stopped the match from going into a deciding frame.