Judd Trump got the better of some tense early exchanges before beating an off-colour Mark Selby 6-2 in their Dafabet Masters quarter-final.
Selby was a long way from the player who looked back to his best when winning against Stephen Maguire in the first round, consistently missing long pots by some distance and making careless mistakes when in among the balls.
Without necessarily being at his own blistering best, Trump was ruthless enough to take advantage, a break of 81 earning him a 3-1 mid-session lead before a century put him 4-1 in front.
That soon became 5-1 thanks to a run of 60, again owing something to his opponent, and while Selby manfully registered a 110 break to extend the match it would prove a mere stay of execution as Trump won a tight eighth frame to seal a semi-final place.
"It was a bit of a nervy game in the end," said Trump.
"In the past, maybe I would've messed up. You've just got to stay patient against him. When a frame is going on for 40 minutes, it's demoralising losing that kind of frame.
"You know he can come back from any scoreline."
