Mark Selby's golden start to 2008 continued with his 6-4 semi-final victory over Stephen Hendry in the Welsh Open in Newport today.
Selby set up a title showdown with either Ronnie O'Sullivan or Shaun Murphy after denying Hendry the chance of collecting a record fourth win in the event.
'I'm really happy with my game, why shouldn't I be after the Masters?' said the 24 year-old, referring to his capture of the Saga Insurance Masters title at Wembley last month.
'Early doors I was struggling for whatever reason but when I needed to perform I did and that's what I've been doing lately. I couldn't feel any better than I do at the moment.'
Selby, whose 77-minute clincher in a 9-7 quarter-final victory over Marco Fu in the UK Championship in December was the longest televised frame on record, took 46 minutes to shade an extremely scrappy opening frame on the pink.
A run of 56 also put the younger man in the driver's seat in the second but, heading towards 2-0, he surrendered position and, direct from a long red, a 67 clearance to pink - trademark Hendry in his pomp - transported the seven-times world champion to 1-1.
The Scot also had a gilt edged opportunity to steal the third frame in similar fashion after Selby, on 46, had inexplicably missed the simplest of reds to a top corner pocket.
However, Hendry missed the yellow employing the rest, subsequently botched his safety on the pink and Selby was able to regain the advantage at 2-1.
Selby was set for 3-1 until he jawed a tricky brown down the side cushion to a baulk pocket. Shortly afterwards, he double-kissed a safety and Hendry cleared brown to pink to tie the scores at 2-2.
Hendry was also in first in the fifth frame but, on 16, suffered a kick that caused a red to straighten and with the 71 break that resulted Selby took the lead for the third time in the match.
A 130 total clearance was Hendry's emphatic response for 3-3 before Selby made it 4-3 by snatching a dramatic seventh frame on the black.
In attempting to escape a partial snooker on the last red by swerving the white, Hendry left it on to a baulk pocket and Selby produced a 32 clearance.
Back came Hendry with a vintage 124 clearance, his 713th century in professional competition, but he could not force an opening in the ninth frame as Selby tactically controlled it to move one up with two to play.
And Selby, full of confidence after beating tough competitors Ken Doherty and John Higgins in the previous two rounds, finished in style with a run of 70 to reach his third world-ranking event final.
'I played well but the difference was Mark's safety. He was excellent in that department and I wasn't tight enough,' said Hendry.
'It just seemed that I couldn't find the baulk cushion, I kept hitting colours on the way back there, but Mark kept putting the cue-ball in the most awkward positions possible for me. You could tell he's the form man.'
After losing his first ranking event semi-final since the 2006 UK Championship, Hendry refused to be too downhearted.
'Obviously I'm disappointed but I'm still going to take a lot of positives from the week. I'm playing a lot better,' declared 39 year-old Hendry, who won the inaugural Welsh Open 16 years ago to the day.
