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Selby soars past Higgins to end title drought at the British Open

Jonathan Davies in British Open

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Mark Selby v John Higgins live stream | British Open Final 2024 preview

Selby claimed his first title in an ITV-televised event on Sunday

Mark Selby claimed his first ranking title in 18 months as he captured the British Open crown following a 10-5 victory over John Higgins.

The Jester prevailed in the battle of the four-time World champions at The Centaur in Cheltenham on Sunday, hitting breaks of 137, 135, 93, 91 and 85 to lift the Clive Everton trophy and pocket the top prize of ยฃ100,000.

Selby, who was runner-up to Mark Williams in this event 12 months ago, went one better this time around to secure his maiden triumph in an ITV-televised event at the end of a week in which he came through four deciding frames.

The world number five was just too strong for Higgins, who narrowly missed out on becoming the second-oldest ranking event winner after the late Ray Reardon 42 years earlier.

“I played great today from start to finish,” Selby told ITV Sport. “I don’t really feel as though I made too many mistakes. When I had my chances, I took them.

“Just winning any tournament nowadays is special because the standard is so tough. I’ve got so much respect for John, he’s one of the all-time greats. Every time I play him, I relish the moment because he’s an absolute legend.

“I dug in this week. If you win a tournament, you’re never going to breeze through; there’s always going to be one or two matches where you probably should’ve lost, but you’ve managed to scrape through. I’ve managed to do that this week.

“To beat John in a final, I knew I had to play at the top of my game, and I did today.”

Contesting their fourth final – two of which had come at the Crucible in 2007 and 2017 – the two players served up a superb opening eight frames during the afternoon session.

Selby, under threat of losing the opening frame via the three-miss rule, knocked in a brilliant long red that paved the way for a break of 63 to draw first blood.

Higgins, appearing in his first ranking final since the 2022 Tour Championship, also capitalised from two stunning opening reds, which led to runs of 80 and 60 that put him in front.

Although, Selby hit back with 85 and a magnificent 137 total clearance for 3-2. He then cleared with 88 in frame six after Higgins had been in first with 43 before he was forced to play safe.

The Scotsman, who secured his return to the world’s top 16 barely a week after dropping out of the elite bracket for the first time in 29 years, responded brilliantly with a neat 105, but the Jester replied with 135 for a 5-3 advantage heading into the evening session.

Upon the resumption, the next four frames were shared, with Selby notably producing an 85 clearance after a cracking long red in the 11th.

However, it was one-way traffic after the interval, with the man from Leicester growing stronger as the finish line neared.

After making it 8-5, he followed up a break of 91 with an equally impressive 93 to secure his return to the winners’ enclosure at Cheltenham.

“He put on a clinic tonight. He played amazing,” Higgins observed of Selby.

“The 10th frame, I had the balls at my mercy and I couldn’t close it out to make it five-each. That was the point where I gave it away, then Mark got stronger and stronger.

“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed playing today. I’m just a bit disappointed by the session tonight. I didn’t bring anywhere near a good enough game to compete with Mark.”