Best Of British Selby Ends Title Drought

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Mark Selby won a first ranking title for 18 months, and 23rd of his career, with a 10-5 defeat of John Higgins in the final of the Unibet British Open.

In a clash between two of the sport’s all-time greats, it was Selby who rose to the occasion as two centuries and six more breaks over 60 helped him to a comfortable victory.

Despite all of his success over the past two decades, this is a significant moment in Selby’s career as his form slumped at the end of last season and he insisted that he was considering retirement. For many years he has struggled with his mental health, and early in 2023 the family were hit with the hammer blow of his wife Vikki’s diagnosis with breast cancer. Thankfully, she is on track for a full recovery.

These off table concerns have helped to put snooker into perspective for 41-year-old Selby, allowing him to enjoy the game itself and lower the burden of expectation he often presses upon his own shoulders. Gradually his form has returned, culminating in today’s excellent performance in Cheltenham.

It’s his first ranking title since the 2023 WST Classic, first British Open crown and first success in an ITV-televised tournament. Just two days after the legendary commentator and journalist Clive Everton passed away, the great man may have looked down in appreciation as Selby lifted the trophy which bears his name.

Banking £100,000, Selby climbs one place in the rankings to fourth, and jumps from 30th to seventh on the one-year list. His return to form brings intrigue to snooker fans as the four-time World Champion and ultimate match-player has all the tools to challenge Judd Trump’s dominance at the top.

Higgins had also hoped to end a long wait for a ranking title, stretching back to the  2021 Players Championship. The 49-year-old could have become the oldest ever ranking event champion other than Ray Reardon, but was outplayed in the concluding session. He has the consolation of returning to the world’s top 16 having dropped out a week ago – the Scot earns £45,000 and climbs to 14th.

Leading 5-3 after the first session, Selby shared the first two frames tonight, then in the next he trailed 34-10 when he converted a sizzling long red to set up a break of 88 and go 7-4 ahead. He had chances in frame 12 but didn’t take them, and Higgins led 31-25 when he doubled a red to centre and added 30 to reduce the gap to two.

In the 13th, Higgins trailed 41-22 when he made a safety error, hitting the black instead of flicking off a red, gifting Selby the chance to make 28 and go 8-5 ahead. That ended Higgins’ resistance as Selby strolled through the last two frames with breaks of 91 and 93.

“The way I played from start to finish was really pleasing,” said Leicester’s Selby. “The first session was incredible, I think my pot success was 98% and John’s was 96%. Tonight wasn’t quite as good, I missed one red at 7-4 but apart from that I made very few mistakes and I took my chances when I had them. I have so much respect for John and his family, every time I play him I just relish the moment. I knew I had to play at the top of my game, and that’s what I did today.”

Higgins, who remains tied with Stephen Hendry on four British Open titles, said: “Mark put on a clinic tonight, he was too good for me. My big moment was the tenth frame when I had a chance to make it 5-5 but couldn’t take it. I really enjoyed the occasion, I’m just a bit disappointed with the way I played tonight. But every credit to Mark. I’m still trying to compete with these top guys, I need to find a higher level to do that.”

Article by WST.

News, WPBSA, WST

British Open, John Higgins, Mark Selby

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