Mark Selby cruised into Sunday's final
Mark Selby cruised into Sunday's final

International Championship: Mark Selby powers into final by thrashing Martin Gould 9-3


World champion Mark Selby swept aside Martin Gould 9-3 to reach the final of the International Championship in Daqing.

The world number one reached the 22nd ranking final of his career after a devastating first session put paid to Gould's hopes.

Gould took the first frame of the match before Selby - helped by breaks of 119, 127, 59, and 72 - surged into an almost unassailable 7-1 interval lead.

Selby then produced a 97 clearance and, although Gould rallied to win two consecutive frames, the defending champion closed out victory to set up a final date with either Chinese teenager Yan Bingtao or three-time ranking winner Mark Allen.

"To be in the final is fantastic, but I don't want to be stopping there. I want to defend it." Selby told worldsnooker.com.

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