John Higgins loses to 'animal' Mark Selby in World Snooker Championship exit

27.04.2023 - 06:43 dailyrecord.co.uk

John Higgins' dream of a fifth world snooker title is over for another year after losing to 'animal' Mark Selby in the quarter-finals last night.

The Wizard of Wishaw had led the Englishman 4-1 early on in the contest, but the Jester from Leicester roared back and ran out a 13-7 victor at the Cruicible to And 47-year-old Higgins, who stormed past Kyren Wilson in the previous round with a session to spare, was full of priase for his opponent after he killed off his title bid.

He said: “I played a terrible first frame today. I should definitely have gone 5-4 in front. "From then it was downhill for me and Mark got stronger.

He just totally took me apart. His safety was incredible. I was in bad positions all day. He is an animal on the table, he really is. “He just continually keeps you on the back foot.

Sporting Mark Selby John Higgins county Wilson

Mark Selby made history by making the first 147 maximum break in a World Championship final against Luca Brecel at the Crucible Theatre on Sunday night. Selby is the second player to make a 147 at this year’s tournament at the Crucible after Kyren Wilson made one in the first round. The pair will share the £40,000 prize for a maximum break.

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Luca Brecel had a big slice of misfortune in the 10th frame of the World Championship final when a red to the middle deviated from its line against Mark Selby. Brecel took on a tricky red to the right middle when the object ball rolled off the nap, which refers to the direction the cloths on the tables are brushed. Ad It used to be a common theme decades ago when cloths were thicker but is a rare sight on modern tables and initially proved costly for Brecel, who was on a break of 27.

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Mark Selby has told Eurosport that speaking about having suicidal thoughts and getting help for his depression was his «biggest achievement» — more than anything else in his illustrious career. The 39-year-old, who is playing in the final of the World Championship against Luca Brecel, admitted that his victory at the English Open «meant everything» but that speaking out about his mental health was bigger than anything he has achieved in snooker. Ad Selby revealed last year that he had been “suffering for a few years” with depression and “bottling everything up” – but felt at the time as though “half the battle is won” after having spoken out about what he was going through.

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Ronnie O’Sullivan believes Luca Brecel is playing the right way to beat Mark Selby at the World Championship final and thinks keeping a good rhythm will be key for the Belgian. Brecel led Selby 6-2 after the first session and clearly didn’t want to get drawn into his opponent's slower safety game. Ad He is playing in his maiden Crucible final after making history by becoming the first player to win a match from nine frames behind on his way to stunning Si Jiiahui in the semi-finals.