3 weeks ago
30
MARK SELBY is in the hunt for a first Welsh Open title since 2008 after a “rubbish” win over John Higgins.
The pair might share eight world snooker titles between them but they served up some dross over the course of five hours – with the best break of 84 coming in the closing frame from Selby.
Rex
RexA tight first was decided on a respotted black, which took ten minutes to sink, and then frame five took more than an hour to complete.
What prolonged the afternoon session was the interruption to frame four when a woman fainted in the crowd.
Selby, 41, was the 5-4 winner and he is involved in the semi-finals of the Welsh Open for the first time since 2012.
This tournament saw the first ranking title success of his career 17 years ago when he beat Ronnie O’Sullivan 9-8 in the final in Newport.
The Leicester Jester said: “It was a rubbish game from both of us from start to finish.
“We just seemed to bring each other down. We both missed a few. It’s strange. If one person plays well, the other person seems to raise their game as well.
“This was the opposite. We both struggled. Then it got a bit edgy. I’m happy to win. It went on for so long, so to lose a game like that is heartbreaking.
“While you’re in the tournament, you can only improve. It was tough to keep my concentration.
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS
“I hope they don’t put my semi-final on at night – otherwise I’ll probably finish up playing at 5am on Sunday.”
Higgins, 49, said: “A mammoth game. I gave everything in that game. It was tough conditions.
“I’m disappointed. I have got deficiencies in my game. I know I cannot bring myself to play the right shot.
“At 3-3 each, 60 in front, I had to play the high black into the pack. But I don’t have the cue power to play those types of shots.”
Selby faces Luca Brecel in the semi-final tomorrow.
Bengali (BD) · 
English (US) ·