SNOOKER

MARK SELBY is closing in on a second Major title defence in just seven months.

The world No.1 reached the final of the International Championship with a 9-3 win over Martin Gould in Daqing. Selby, 34, made it back-to-back world titles in May (above) with victory over John Higgins at the Crucible.

He hopes to follow up in the sport’s newest Major – with £150,000 on offer to tomorrow’s winner. Selby said: “Defending titles is not easy, so it is great to be back in the final.”