World Snooker Championship 2023: ‘Sounded like the cue had snapped!’ – Watch Mark Selby’s ‘frightening’ fluke

Looking to wrap up the match at 9-7 ahead, Selby took aim at the blue into the middle pocket… but he miscued loudly and the blue went flying around the table and rolled into the top pocket. Not only that, but Selby ended up well positioned on the only red left on the table.

Selt, who had previously been warned by the referee for swearing, looked to be simmering as he watched from his seat, perhaps sensing his chances of a comeback win were gone.

“Bonkers,” said Eurosport commentator Philip Studd.

“Matt Selt having to bite his tongue, he’s already been warned about his language but goodness me. What must be going through his mind at the moment, distinctly post-watershed I imagine.”

Eurosport’s Neal Foulds said he had never seen anything like it before.

“I don’t think I have seen a fluke like that in my life, it sounded like the cue had snapped.

“I didn’t think a shot like that existed, where you can miscue, screw back and be on the red! Goodness me. A fluke like that can make anybody swear. It was frightening!”

The fluke did not prove costly for Selt as he showed fight to respond and win the frame.

Selby is bidding to win the World Championship for a fifth time. He is currently level with John Higgins on four world titles.

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