Selby beats Williams to claim China Open title

Mark Selby won his fourth ranking title of the season by beating Mark Williams 10-8 in the final of the Bank of Beijing China Open yesterday.

World number one Selby captured the 11th ranking title of his career and a top prize of £85,000 by coming from 8-7 down to win the last three frames.

Defeat was a double blow for 42-year-old Williams as he missed out on his first ranking title in six years and also the chance to regain a place among the world’s top 16. Victory would have given him an automatic spot at the Crucible later this month, but now he must head to the Betfred World Championship qualifiers which start on Wednesday and will need to win three matches to make the final stages. Ryan Day must have been the most relieved man following the final as he hung on to the 16th seeding position thanks to his fellow Welshman’s defeat.

Selby, meanwhile, will head to the Crucible at the top of his game having had his most successful season to date. He had never previously won more than two ranking events in a single campaign, but following his victories at the Paul Hunter Classic, International Championship and UK Championship, the 33-yearold from Leicester has landed another piece of silverware.

In winning seven matches in Beijing he has established himself as hot favourite as he goes to Sheffield to try to win his third world title since 2014.