Selby wants to win in China for Leicester owner
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E-mail China.org.cn, October 31, 2018
World number one Mark Selby is through to the last 16 of the International Championship in China and hopes he can finish a "tough" week by dedicating the trophy to Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha.
Selby is a fan of Leicester City and has close links with the football club, particularly since he won the 2016 World Championship on the same day that the Foxes won the Premier League title. The club's owner Srivaddhanaprabha tragically died in a helicopter crash last Saturday.
After beating Robert Milkins 6-4 with top breaks of 102 and 131, Selby said: "This week was always going to be tough for me, given what has happened in Leicester. I just need to try to deal with it, go out there and try to play as well as I can and maybe bring the trophy back for Vichai. Snooker is our job, you have to pick yourself up and carry on.
"People back home have been supporting me and telling me to try to win it. I have to try to stay focused because there is no point in playing if your head is not right. If I do lose I'l be getting home as fast as possible to pay my respects."
Mark Allen made a rare break of 146 as he beat Hossein Vafaei 6-3. Northern Ireland's Allen was runner-up to Selby in this event last year and will make the quarter-finals this time if he can beat Alfie Burden on Wednesday.
World number 12 Allen trailed Iran's Vafaei 2-0 but hit back to win six of the next seven frames with runs of 142, 53, 54, 68, 78, 146 and 65. The 146 was the third of his career and puts him in line for the £3,000 high break prize.
Stuart Carrington earned a match against Selby as he enjoyed a tremendous fight-back to beat Ian Burns 6-5. World number 48 Carrington was 5-1 down and needed a snooker on the last red in frame seven, but got it and cleared up for 5-2. He then rattled through the last four frames with 116, 76, 64 and 70.
Neil Robertson came from 4-2 down to beat close friend Joe Perry 6-5, making a 76 in the deciding frame. Home favourite Ding Junhui top scored with 112 in a 6-4 win over Zhao Xintong.
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