THRILLER AT THE CRUCIBLE
Selby stages astonishing comeback against Higgins in world final
MARK SELBY was produced one of sport’s great comebacks last night to retain his Betfred World Championship title.
In beating four-times champion John Higgins 18-15, Selby joined an elite group of just three players to have won back-to-back titles at the Crucible.
The world No 1 was stunned when underdog Higgins romped into a 10-4 lead, before reeling off nine of the next 10 frames to lead 13-11 himself yesterday afternoon.
Last night, Selby held off a mini revival from Higgins, who reduced the gap from 16-12 to 1715, to get his hands on the famous trophy – and £375,000 top prize – in Sheffield.
When it comes to sporting fightbacks, Sheffield golfer Danny Willett – in the Crucible crowd yesterday – has his own chapter in the history books.
Last year, he overhauled Jordan Spieth’s five-shot advantage going into the back nine to be crowned Masters champion at Augusta.
But, this was different. Spieth capitulated with a crazy series of shots at the par-3 12th, where he twice found the water on his way to a quadruple bogey seven.
At the Crucible, Higgins was helpless as Selby showed the match-play snooker qualities that have seen him occupy the world No 1 spot for the last two years.
The 33-year-old – who won the title in 2014 and 2016 – was looking to join Steve Davis, Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O’Sullivan as the only players to have successfully defended their Crucible crown.
Selby has previous, having battled back from 10-5 down against O’Sullivan in the 2014 final.
Sunday night’s final three frames had given him the platform to make his bid for a place in elite company.
Trailing 10-4, it looked terminal, but somehow he raised his game, breaks of 81 and 121 helping to cut the deficit to 10-7 overnight.
And the Leicester potter returned yesterday afternoon, winning six of the seven frames played to leave Higgins shellshocked.
After a scrappy opener, frame 19 saw all remaining 12 reds scattered over the baulk end, and Selby pounced after Higgins missed a long-range attempt.
At 10-9, Higgins needed to respond, but three failed attempts to escape a snooker – hitting the brown each time to pot the white ball – looked ominous.
The 41-year-old, hoping to become the oldest Crucible champion since 45-year-old Ray Reardon triumphed in 1978, managed to eke out a 78 to briefly stop the rot.
Selby came out on top after a 45-minute frame, and then reeled off frame-winning breaks of 67, 58 and 72 to edge 13-11 in front.
The previous time the pair met in a Crucible final – 10 years ago in 2007 – it was Higgins who came out on top.
But Selby had the scent of revenge in his nostrils yesterday, the pair trading the first two frames of the evening.
It was a low-scoring final, match-play attrition rather than eye-catching centuries, but breaks of 71, 54 and 70 saw Selby pull away to 16-12 heading into the mid-session interval.
The interval was a welcome break for Higgins, who first won the World Championship 19 years ago in 1998.
That experience – he made his Crucible debut in 1995 – was vital as he returned composed, free of the earlier shackles that seemed to weigh him down, to win the next three frames – thanks to breaks of 88, 111 and a gritty 43 to cut the gap to 16-15.
The last of those saw referee Jan Verhaas intervene to call a foul on a disgruntled Selby.
The world champion thought he had hit the black as he attempted to roll up for a snooker.
Television replays proved inconclusive, so the experienced Verhaas stuck to his decision.
It was a decision that could have upset less experienced players, but Selby was unruffled.
He fired in a tremendous longrange red, going on to clear the table with a 131.
After winning four ranking titles this season – the Paul Hunter Classic, International Championship, UK Championship and China Open – Selby has dominated in 2016-17.
But this was his toughest Crucible final to date, after coming through 18-14 against Ronnie O’Sullivan in 2014 and Ding Junhui 12 months ago.
A 131 clearance, initiated with a superb long-range red, nudged Selby towards the finishing line, at 17-15, and left him needing just one more frame for victory and back-to-back titles – and he took it for an 18-15 triumph.