Mark Selby seals emotional English Open title after comprehensive victory over Luca Brecel in final

ByEurosport

Updated 18/12/2022 at 23:23 GMT

Mark Selby clinched his first title in 19 months after beating Luca Brecel 9-6 to take the English Open trophy. The 'Jester from Leicester' was clearly emotional as he got his hands on the silverware, but it was fully deserved as he produced the better snooker on the night. He will take home £80,000 in the process and victory also sees him jump back up the rankings.

Emotional scenes as Selby claims English Open title after very tough year

Mark Selby won his first ranking title since 2021 after a comprehensive 9-6 victory over Luca Brecel to take the 2022 English Open title.

The former world No. 1 returned to form to take the Steve Davis trophy, scooping £80,000 in the process.

Selby looked in superb touch in the opening four frames after his first break of 90 was not answered by Brecel.

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Two more half-centuries, the first of 57 and then of 74 in the second and third frames respectively, moved Selby three clear and things were looking ominous for his Belgian opponent.

However, Brecel was able to grab what seemed perhaps little more than a consolation with a 96-27 frame win in the fourth.

After the mid-session interval, Selby hit another 50 to re-establish a three-frame lead as he threatened to wrap up an early victory.

At 69-45 ahead, Brecel missed after being on the cusp of winning if he sunk a colour, Selby was allowed back to the table and the pair contested a potentially vital yellow around the table, but Brecel was able to edge it to win his second frame.

'I've been suffering for a few years silently' - Emotional Selby on journey to English Open title

In the next frame, Brecel found himself 50-7 up and landed a difficult red to the middle pocket, and was able to pot enough of the remainders to leave Selby unwilling to look for snookers.

In the penultimate frame of the session, Selby made a poor miss on a blue and opened the door for Brecel, who didn't have to be offered the chance twice and closed out the frame, reducing the deficit to just one.

The Belgian had clawed his way back into the match, despite not making a break over 50, and he continued that form in taking the eighth frame to level the scores at 4-4.

Selby emerged victorious in a scrappy ninth frame to edge back in front after Brecel spurned a wonderful chance whilst seemingly in control of the frame.

He put daylight between the players once more at 6-4 with a break of 61 following a horrendous safety shot from Brecel, who was clearly feeling the pressure.

'Over the moon' Selby left delighted after emotional English Open win

But the Belgian rallied back to keep on the coattail of Selby with the highest break of the day, a fine run of 122.

Brecel was struggling to find consistency in his game, though, and when he had an opportunity to level the tie once more, he undercut the last red, a mistake that Selby would duly punish.

There was a flashpoint in the 13th frame when a supporter was evicted from the arena for shouting out, distracting Selby from taking a shot. Fortunately, it didn’t deter the Jester from taking the frame as he moved to within one of victory.