Mark Selby booked a place in the semi-finals of the Masters with a dramatic 6-5 victory over Mark Allen at Wembley last night.

The "Jester from Leicester" edged through 6-5 after a final frame which lasted nearly an hour.

The match could hardly have been a greater contrast to Selby's 6-1 victory over Ding Junhui in the first round.

Selby took a 3-0 advantage but was on the brink of going out of the tournament when Allen fought back to lead 5-4.

However, Selby forced a decider and eventually battled his way through to a last-four clash against Stephen Maguire, who beat Ryan Day 6-1.

The first frame was a messy affair with both players making several mistakes. Selby eventually took it 51-42 but it looked hard work.

Selby gradually settled into a rhythm in the second frame as he ran up a break of 61 on the way to taking it 68-18.

He began to show signs of his best form in the third frame which he took 129-0 with the help of a break of 46 and an 83 clearance.

That put him 3-0 ahead but Allen hit back with a break of 114 to cut Selby's advantage to 3-1 at the first interval.

Allen continued his fightback in the fifth frame which he took with a break of 82.

Selby looked to be re-asserting his control in the sixth frame but his run broke down on 52 and Allen levelled the match at 3-3.

Selby took a tense seventh frame 63-20 to go back in front.

Both players had chances in the eighth but Allen made the better of his to take it 85-16 to tie the contest at 4-4.

The ninth frame was a marathon with periods of safety play but Allen eventually won it 82-6 to put himself on the brink of victory.

There was just as much tension in the next frame which also contained long bouts of safety.

Allen had chances to clinch the match but Selby eventually took control and sank to his knees when he potted the last red and frame-clinching pink.

The deciding frame was a long drawn out-affair and at one time a re-rack looked on the cards.

But Selby held the upper hand for most of the time and, with breaks of 18, 20 and 24, edged to victory.