Mark Selby beats John Higgins 6-5 in the most eye catching match so far of the UK Championship in York today
The current world No.1 and reigning world champion, Mark Selby dashed John Higgins Hopes of a fourth UK Championship title after beating the Scot 6-5 in a tense deciding frame.
It was the most anticipated snooker match of the quarter finals as both players are very closely matched, and both have similar styles of playing snooker.
The match looked from the start as though it was all going to be about Selby, as he quickly racked up a 3-0 lead with breaks of 119, 63 and 67.
John Higgins, the battler, fought himself back into the match by taking advantage of mistakes from Selby and took the next four frames on the trot to lead 4-3.
Selby levelled the match off a 4-4 but it was Higgins who took the next frame to lead 5-4. Mark Selby once again levelled the match to force the deciding frame of this fascinating snooker match.
The deciding frame started off by going Selby’s way, but after the World Champion broke down, Higgins got himself back into the frame. After a long safety spell, a few errors from Higgins gifted the match to Selby.
In his interview after the match, Selby said;
“John Started well and at 4-3 down i thought i was going home and i would only have myself to blame. I was getting chances but missing them. But i got through in the end.”
A disappointed John Higgins said;
“Im gutted.”
“I would have rather lost 6-0, than 6-5. I could of been halfway home by now.”
Mark Selby will now face Shaun Murphy who decisively won his match 6-1 over Belgian, Luca Brecel earlier today.
Both Murphy and Selby are good friends and have both won the UK Championships in the past, but friendship will be left behind as they battle it out for a chance to reach the final of the second biggest snooker tournament on Sunday.
