John Higgins cements lead at mid-session interval

The pair shared the session with two frames apiece with Selby winning the first and last of the session.

After a really tense opening to the session, that saw over 11 minutes pass without a pot, Selby eventually sank a red to the middle and he potted very well to get a frame back.

However Higgins then cleared up very well on two occasions as he won the battle of the safety's.

But Selby came back in the last frame, taking advantage as Higgins failed to sink a crucial pink.

Having fought back on two occasions in the first mini-session to be level at 2-2 Higgins then took control in the second mini-session.

The second mini-session was blighted by both players failing to finish off frames and letting their opponents back in.

In the fifth Higgins let Selby in only to then find himself back on the table as his opponent was unable to dislodge the reds that had nestled on the side cushion, and Higgins made no mistake this time as he took a lead for the first time.

The sixth took a while to get going but when Higgins did find himself amongst the balls he made it count, making a break of 95.

Selby was guilty of throwing away a frame in the seventh as he led 52-1 only to miss a red and see Higgins come back with a break of 58.

Then in the final frame before the break it had seemed as if Higgins had it all wrapped up but he missed a couple of pots and all of a sudden an epic safety battle unfolded, with Selby producing a sensational pot on the red.

But he couldn't see out the frame and Higgins came back to make it 6-2.

Earlier Higgins started the first frame of the match well but Selby took his chance after his opponent's break of 34, notching in a 76 to get underway.

In the second Higgins was in control from the start as Selby struggled with a safety despite a massive fluke on a red.

Higgins twice missed opportunities in the third but they were only chances to stay in the frame, with Selby already leading the way following a break of 62.

The first ton of the match, a terrific 141, drew Higgins back into the match with nothing to separate the pair.