Higgins joins Selby for Sheffield clash
SCOTLAND’S John Higgins has the chance to vie for a fifth World Championship title after brushing aside Barry Hawkins last night.
Taking a 16-8 lead into the final session of their semi-final clash, Higgins immediately won the one frame needed to secure victory with a break of 120.
Higgins’ opponent in the final after a 17-8 success is Mark Selby, who moved one step away from a third world title in four years as he saw off Ding Junhui again at the Crucible.
Twelve months ago it was in the final where Selby denied Ding, and this time a 17-15 victory in their semi-final saw the Leicester man through.
Ding may have been a resident of Sheffield for the past decade but it was defending champion Selby who brought the steel to this contest.
He potted fewer balls, scored fewer points, but plotted his way to victory all the same.
It is hard to imagine a tougher match player, and the ability to win against such a classy competitor as Ding shows why Selby has topped the world rankings for the last two years and is pulling away.
The Leicester cueman punched the air with delight as he clinched victory and admitted afterwards: ‘When I had my chance there I was taking a little bit longer over my
shots than I normally would but I knew if I didn’t win the frame at that visit it would have got away from me.
‘Every shot felt like a pint of blood in that frame.’
Asked about his show of emotion, Selby added: ‘It’s more relief than anything else.”
Ding’s 13 centuries in the tournament ranks as the most by a player at the World Championship not to reach the final, but that was no consolation.
The Chinese player said: ‘I’m disappointed to have lost when I played so well but that is sport.
‘However I have improved and have been a lot more confident and aggressive here so that is good.
‘On this performance I think Mark Selby is the favourite to win the title.’
The final is over the best of 35 frames today and tomorrow.