Best Of British Selby Ends Title Drought
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.
