Masters snooker 2025 LIVE RESULTS: Allen leading Selby NOW after Murphy MISSES 147 chance in win over Robertson – latest

Mark Selby 2-0 Ali Carter* (2-1)

Beauty of a red from Selby when Carter is short with his safety.

He's cutely beside the green at the top cushion so opts for the snooker.

*Mark Selby 2-0 Ali Carter (1-1)

A point each on the board but we're in a bit of a rut with the reds broken up but no real rhythm yet.

Mark Selby 2-0 Ali Carter

Anyway, Selby's back and he'll get frame three underway.

Sidenote

As Mark Selby nips out for a quick break, I've just been reminded of a disagreement me and the wife had.

I think there's more than a bit of Harvey Specter - the greatest character in television - in Selby. But she doesn't see ANY resemblance.

Really?

*Mark Selby 1-0 Ali Carter (41-59)

Selby pots the cue ball and hands the initiative to Carter, who pots the red and follows up with the blue.

He just needs to pot beyond the brown here to for the frame, though the brown is an issue against the top cushion.

Not sure what he tries when potting the green but he misses the brown altogether, bouncing the cue ball off the top cushion and away from the brown. So Selby is back and needs every ball here.

Mark Selby 1-0 Ali Carter* (41-44)

A Carter slip-up allows Selby a chance to stun a red into the yellow pocket.

It's still a difficult pot but again one he'd back himself to pot nine times out of ten.

But it's hit with plenty of pace and the red smashes the jaws and to safety. A let-off for Carter.

Mark Selby 1-0 Ali Carter* (41-44)

It's a game of snookers/safeties at the minute, neither player looking to give an inch, as you'd expect.

A critical point here.

Mark Selby 1-0 Ali Carter* (41-44)

A really, REALLY good snooker in fact as Carter hits the pink first.

Six more points for Selby who has clawed himself back into the frame slowly but surely.

He puts Carter back in to play from there.

Mark Selby 1-0 Ali Carter* (35-44)

A break of 23 for Selby who was a tad unfortunate having to go round the houses on the black to get back down for the red on the bottom cushion.

He canons into the brown, leaving him no sort of shot here.

But it's an exquisite snooker, leaving the red behind the pink on the right cushion and the cue ball far enough away.

*Mark Selby 1-0 Ali Carter (14-44)

It's Carter who goes for a long pot which doesn't come off, allowing Selby onto the table and he pots a great red.

Can he close this 30-point gap with these three reds remaining?

Mark Selby 1-0 Ali Carter* (13-44)

These four reds going to cause quite the nuisance.

Selby does manage to take the remaining ones out and get a break of 13 to his name before playing behind the green for a snooker.

Very patient play but one mistake could be costly in frame two.

*Mark Selby 1-0 Ali Carter (0-44)

Such a tricky visit from Carter with eight or nine reds neatly grouped on the bottom cushion.

He always knew to wrap this frame up here that he'd need to move some of them, and to his credit he got a few clear and a couple of blacks on the way.

Still seven reds to play for as he takes his seat after playing safe up the table.

Mark Selby 1-0 Ali Carter* (0-1)

It's another unusual mistake from Selby and the cue ball is right bang in the middle of the table and there's plenty of reds on for Carter here.

He's even left a red an inch or two from the yellow pocket for good measure. Good chance for Carter here.

Mark Selby 1-0 Ali Carter* (0-1)

Beauty of a pot from Carter, right into the left corner pocket to cheers and clapping from the supporters inside the arena.

They quickly stop as the cue ball heads up to the top cushion and plants itself right up against it.

He plays the snooker which Selby gets out without much fuss and we're back in a safety rally.

Mark Selby 1-0 Ali Carter* (0-0)

Bit of a safety exchange at the minute but Selby has missed one thin, leaving the cue ball a good six inches below the baulk line.

Carter is eyeing this one up but the reds are well spaced out and a miss could kill the frame.

He opts to play safe too as we await someone to make the first mistake.

Mark Selby 1-0 Ali Carter (0-0)

Ali Carter to break in frame two.

*Mark Selby 0-0 Ali Carter (33-24)

An unfortunate kiss off the red on the left cushion means Carter's cue ball isn't put into position as he'd like.

That forces him into a tough pot on the red into the right corner pocket, which he does but he's awkward onto the black into the left middle pocket.

He could be forgiven for ignoring the pot but takes it on and just misses. Selby returns to the table.

Mark Selby 0-0 Ali Carter* (33-12)

Neither player has really settled here. The eight reds are positioned nicely that Selby would have fancied wrapping this frame up in this visit.

The simplest of yellows into the yellow pocket - a shot he's probably made 10,000 times in his life - to add to his break of 33 and he over cuts it, rattling the jaws and away.

The cue ball is back down on the reds and Carter now has the perfect chance to capitalise.

*Mark Selby 0-0 Ali Carter (0-12)

Chance for a good break for Carter but he's fluffed his chance.

Early stages of this one but just the 12 to his name and the anguish across his face is telling.

Shouts of 'come on Mark' as Selby rises from his chair earlier than he was probably expecting.

Mark Selby 0-0 Ali Carter (0-0)

The players are welcomed out into a terrific atmosphere once again at Ally Pally.

It was the same this afternoon, this tournament is always very well received.

And we're about to get underway for the evening match.

Selby talks Carter clash

Mark Selby has given his thoughts on the strengths of upcoming opponent Ali Carter.

He told The Metro: "We’ve played many games, played at the Crucible a couple of times.

"Over the years I’ve got to know him a lot better, we’re good friends, spent a lot of time together at tournaments, he’s a good lad.

"I expect a very, very tough game. He’s got a good match game, good all-round game, scores well, his safety is good.

"The only thing that lets him down sometimes is his temperament and he’d probably say that himself.

"But his will to win and his fight you cannot question that, especially with what he’s been through off the table [twice diagnosed with cancer].

"He’s shown his character and his fight off the table and he shows it on the table as well."

Next up

The final match of the evening will be a tasty one between Mark Selby and Ali Carter.

The first frame gets underway at 7:00pm.

Ding's next opponent

Ding Junhui will face the winner of the tie between Barry Hawkins and Judd Trump.