Snooker: Ronnie O'Sullivan and Mark Selby were locked together at 4-4 after an enthralling opening session of the Masters final at Wembley Arena. O'Sullivan raced into a 3-1 lead but defending champion Selby hit back to win the next three frames in a row.
The right-hander looked set to take a 5-3 lead into the evening session but missed a tricky red on a break of 53 and O’Sullivan produced a brilliant 48 clearance to get back on level terms.
The world champion had looked in excellent form in the early stages, winning the first frame after a break of 68 and taking the second as well without Selby potting a ball.
Selby got on the scoreboard with a break of 82 but was unlucky to leave himself snookered after potting a long red early in the fourth frame.
On his second attempt to hit a baulk colour he knocked a red over the middle pocket and O’Sullivan took full advantage with a break of 101 to lead 3-1.
It looked like becoming 4-1 only for O’Sullivan to miss a tricky brown with the rest, Selby stepping in to cleverly pot it cushion first and clear up.
A break of 76 made it 3-3 and Selby, admittedly enjoying the run of the balls, went ahead for the first time in the match by winning a scrappy seventh frame. But O’Sullivan dug deep to complete a tough clearance in the eighth frame to leave the match finely balanced.