Mark Selby storms past John Higgins to reach World Snooker Championship semi-finals for an eighth time
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Updated 27/04/2023 at 06:44 GMT
Mark Selby reached the semi-finals of the World Championship for an eighth time after a comfortable 13-7 victory against John Higgins. It was expected to be a tight battle between two of the sport’s best ever tactical players, but Selby was on top form and romped away during the two sessions on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Si Jiahui beat Anthony McGill 13-12 in a thrilling match.
'What a pot!' - Selby sinks 'incredible' red against Higgins
Mark Selby produced a vintage performance to beat John Higgins 13-7 in the battle of the four-time world champions.
In a match billed as one for snooker purists, Selby outclassed Higgins in the safety department to be on the front foot for the majority of the match.
Selby will face Mark Allen in the second semi-final, which begins on Thursday at 19:00 UK time on Eurosport and discovery+.
Higgins and Selby were locked at 4-4 after the first session, but Selby won five of the six frames played on Wednesday afternoon to take a 9-5 lead going into the evening.
Only 14 frames were played prior to the final session, such was the length of several frames, and the last of which saw Selby make his 100th century at the Crucible to become just the fourth player to hit triple figures at the World Championship – only Ronnie O’Sullivan, Higgins and Stephen Hendry have more.
Selby stamped his authority with a terrific pot on a red to the bottom left pocked on his way to a break of 64 in the first frame of the evening, before Higgins pulled one back with the scores now at 10-6.
The Jester from Leicester came out on top in another cagey battle and produced a 91 to take a comfortable 12-6 lead going into the mid-session interval.
Selby unexpectedly missed a red to the top left pocket which enabled Higgins to make a delightful 102 to pull a frame back.
Higgins surprisingly played for a tougher red early in the 20th frame and it went wrong as it did not drop in the pocket, so Selby, in typical style, made him pay to seal the match and a place in the Crucible semi-finals for an eighth time.
The other quarter-final on Wednesday night saw some classic Crucible drama as Si Jiahui won on a decider against Anthony McGill 13-12.
It was 8-8 going into the final session, only for McGill to go 11-9 ahead. He should have won the 21st frame, but handed a lifeline to the Chinese player when he missed a couple of sitters.
Si took the next frame too, so was back level and McGill was clearly agitated as he slapped his cue on the table when missing a red as he fell to 12-11 behind.
However, the former World Championship semi-finalist used his anger to produce his highest break of the match with a 130 to set up a one-frame shootout.
Si had a couple of chances when he was in the balls but could only get to 29-6 in front after running out of position and opting to play safe.
McGill had a big opportunity of his own after laying a snooker on Si, but hit the wrong red first when going for a pot.
The world No. 80 and Crucible debutant stepped in with a composed break of 40 and kept his head when McGill played for snookers to book a place in the semi-finals, where he will face Luca Brecel, who stunned Ronnie O’Sullivan with a dramatic comeback.
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