British Open snooker 2024 final LIVE - Mark Selby takes on John Higgins in final showdown

Welcome to Eurosport's live text coverage of the final of the British Open as John Higgins and Mark Selby do battle at the Centaur in Cheltenham. Higgins stormed into the final courtesy of a comprehensive 6-0 whitewash win over Oliver Lines, while Selby overcame Mark Allen 6-3 to book his spot in the show-piece match. Higgins is bidding to win the tournament for a fifth time.

'Absolute legend' - Allen pays tribute to Higgins after 1,000th century

Video credit: TNT Sports

THAT, THEN, IS US

Thanks for your company today, tonight, and over the last week. We'll see you for Wuhan!

MARK accepts THE TROPHY

Unibet British Open

Higgins returns to top 16 ahead of record British Open title bid against Selby

29/09/2024 at 10:14

Well played sir. It's lovely to see you doing well.

MARK SPEAKS

He's delighted with how he played today. He got down to play a shot without having decided what it was going to be, so missed the red for 8-4, but otherwise. He then chastises John for saying he can't reach the level, talking about how much he respects him and his family. He thinks when you win a tournament there's always a match you maybe should've lost but he's had four deciders so he's had that. To beat John he knew he'd have to play at his best, and he did.

JOHN SPEAKS

He wishes he'd have played better tonight, but he says Mark was amazing. He's not sure he's got the level to compete with the best guys playing well, he sort of says, b– ut he's back in the top 16, Rob finishes off.

MARK SELBY BEATS JOHN HIGGINS 10-5 TO WIN THE BRTISH OPEN

That's his first title in 18 months, and what a performance. Biggup also toJohn, who dropped out of the top 16 for the first time in 29 years and rebounded to get to the final here. But Mark was too good.

SELBY 9-5 HIGGINS (88-0)

Can he seal it with a ton?

SELBY 9-5 HIGGINS (74-0)

A blue to middle and barring snookers, Mark is the champ. He follows it with a red, and it wasnt long ago he was talling about quitting the game if he didn't start enjoying it more. He's enjoying it now!

SELBY 9-5 HIGGINS (55-0)

Mark has the white cleaned to enjoy a breather and a drink. He's been in peefect control of this break, and what's been great about his play today is that he's not missed surprisingly when set. He's flying.

SELBY 9-5 HIGGINS (29-0)

Mark screws back hard into the pack, and though the next red is awkward, if he bins it he'll have a good chance to take f&m. He does, and he's really attacked this match since the inteval.

SELBY 9-5 HIGGINS (13-0)

John has a go at one, misses, and he knows this is did. Mark gobbles up the loose ball, rams in a green, and like La Roux, he's going in for the kill.

SELBY 9-5 HIGGINS

John needs five in a row. Mark needs one in a row.

SELBY 8-5 HIGGINS (91-0)

In comms, Angles recalls that in both this frame and frame eight, John left a half-ball red, Mark sent it down, and imposed a 137. But here, he has to settle for a 91, blaming a kick and peering over the white to make clear where fault lay.

SELBY 8-5 HIGGINS (72-0)

A red to middle secures the frame, and this has been a gorgeous break, a master at work. Is he to register a third total clearance of the match?

SELBY 8-5 HIGGINS (56-0)

Lovely! Mark nudges off the blue and kisses a couple of reds – he's fashioned a proper chance here, and doesn't look minded to waste it. It's lovely to watch him work and I'd love to see him win here.

SELBY 8-5 HIGGINS (33-0)

Mark gets serious action on the white when he goes into the pack - it spins thrice as balls open, and though there's work to do, there are also points out there.

SELBY 8-5 HIGGINS (18-0)

Mark steers slow and straight, clipping into right corner – he'll feel good about that – as he will about the lush green he's just rolled to left corner. He wants to get this finished now and probably thinks he's playing wel enough to force the issue.

SELBY 8-5 HIGGINS

John soon loses interest, saving his energy for what he now has to hope will be a long night.

SELBY 7-5 HIGGINS (69-22)

Frame-ball is a red along the top, and Mark glides it in nicely; two snookers now needed by John. For all the difference it makes; he drops pink to middle, escapes his own snooker, and a lead of three is nearly his again.

SELBY 7-5 HIGGINS (48-22)

Mark removes loose balls ... the jawses one prodded hard down the side rail; he's naused. John, though, can't tidy it up and we're back paying safety ... for one shot! Because he then foul-seven, hitting black not red from underneath, opens some balls, and it's a shot fit to cost a frame.

SELBY 7-5 HIGGINS (13-22)

The Class of 92 are all turning 50 in the next year or two, it's noted in comms, so Ray Reardon may not be the oldest winner of a ranking tournament – 50 – for much longer. If John wins tonight, he goes second, but he's left a starter to left corner which Mark sees away, then a sensational brown, rapped into the yellow with position on a red to left corner, that brings him on to the black, and this is a chance.

SELBY 7-5 HIGGINS (0-22)

Ah, and he doesn't take on a difficult colour, instead playing to the baulk cushion off the green.

SELBY 7-5 HIGGINS (0-22)

Both men will be disappointed with how they've played this evening; John might be a little relived to still be in touch. And he's first in in frame 13, striking hard to left corner; you get the feeling he's had a quiet one with himself at the interval. The reds, though, are largely blocking one another, so he opens them and is just about on one. – though he's chasing.

WE GO AGAIN

SELBY 7-5 HIGGINS

The standard's dipped from this afternoon, but drama is on the rise. See you in 15.

SELBY 7-4 HIGGINS (25-68)

John clunks home the final red and that'll be a gap of two at the final interval. This is getting tenser and tenser.

SELBY 7-4 HIGGINS (25-61)

Oota naewhere, John assaults his cue - he must've been trying to swat something, but he went at whatever it was with great vengeance and fuuurious anger. The cue is fine and the frame is nearly over. He plays safe 36 in front with 35 left.

SELBY 7-4 HIGGINS (25-46)

John inspects a double that's barely on ... and punishes it straight into the heart of the hole. It's a cliche to marvel at how good he is at those, but here we are.

SELBY 7-4 HIGGINS (25-31)

But he soon misses thick to left corner and the way the balls are, this should now be one back for John.

SELBY 7-4 HIGGINS (25-30)

A poor positional shot means a cut-back pink, sunk nicely, and there's a red in baulk at which to go next. And have a look! He jawses it to the green and I didn't expect him to miss that. Massive chance for Mark to go four in front!

SELBY 7-4 HIGGINS (21-10)

With the white left short, John has a shot to right corner and gets himself away, plenrty of points there for him. He should make a decent dent in the frame at this visit.

SELBY 7-4 HIGGINS (21-4)

Mark breaks the pack but not especially well so, with more reds open, it's back to baulk.

SELBY 7-4 HIGGINS (7-4)

Another slow start, John earning four when a roll-up drops short, Mark disappearing a red than nuzzling right up against the brown. Those shots are so hard to play, and he plays them so well. And though the Wiz hits, he leaves a ball over right corner, so must now sit down and hope his opponent misses. The table, though, needs work.

SELBY 7-4 HIGGINS (5-1)

He goes again, hits, and the players quickly agree a re-rack.

SELBY 7-4 HIGGINS (1-1)

Another tremendous pot from Mark, thundering a plant from centre to left corner. Then it's a snooker in on the bottom rail and behind enough of the yellow; John's first roll-up escape falls short.

SELBY 7-4 HIGGINS (1-1)

This next frame is must-win for John, the one after it too, because 5-8 would also be a problem. But it's Mark in first, offered one to right-centre ... only to miss brown to the yellow ... and he's left one. So John sends it down only to miss the green to the green ... and fluke a snooker. Mark escapes into the pack.

SELBY 7-4 HIGGINS

A clearance of 85 secures the frame, and it looks ominous for John.

SELBY 6-4 HIGGINS (61-34)

I wonder if, when we look back, the wondrous red that started this run will stand out as a turning point. It looks to have, at the very least, settled the frame and eanred Selbz a three-frame lead for the first time in the match.

SELBY 6-4 HIGGINS (23-34)

Oooh yeah! Mark flows a gorgeous long starter diagonally into right corner,and the way the balls are, he can steal the frame at this visit. There's one red just above black cush, but everything else is out in the open.

SELBY 6-4 HIGGINS (0-34)

Mark eases a starter into left-middle then a green long to left corner, but what will the pack yield when he attacks it? He doesn't try, unable to get position so to do, so it's a safety and this has all the hallmarks of a 10-9, 2.48 in the morning job.

SELBY 6-4 HIGGINS (0-34)

It doesn't, but he's on one nevertheless then, when he goes again he lands stuck to pink and almost stuck to a red so just feathers them and sits down.

SELBY 6-4 HIGGINS (0-20)

My computer crashes, my coverage returning in time for me to see that John has just got in. He'll need to open the pack soon enough, and if that goes well he's in business.

SELBY 6-4 HIGGINS

Back where we started, Selbz two frames in front.

SELBY 5-4 HIGGINS (74-28)

Mark foul-misses and for someone reason John doesn't have him replaced, instead trying to pull off a snooker similar to the one he'd already have been in. so he's only himself to blame when Selbz tickles a red into right-centre, and the gap is again two frames.

SELBY 5-4 HIGGINS (63-28)

He escapes then lays one of his own, and Mark, trying a swerve misses it on the way past then again on the way back. John needs all the balls to tie.

SELBY 5-4 HIGGINS (63-24)

So Mark gets away and extends his lead, then uses the rest to roll parallel with the side rail and into left corner. The black follows, so John needs a snooker, returning to the table snookered himself on the final red.

SELBY 5-4 HIGGINS (47-24)

Mark develops one out-of-commission ball, but what?! He can't drain blue to middle! He was on the side cushion but i didn't expect him to miss the pot, and this could be a crucial frame, John unable to sink his starter.

SELBY 5-4 HIGGINS (30-24)

Mark quickly moves in front but there are two reds on cushions and one stuck to the pink that'll need his attention.

SELBY 5-4 HIGGINS (1-24)

Oh! John massively undercuts a black to left corner, leaving the world.

SELBY 5-4 HIGGINS (0-11)

A terrible safety shot from Mark – not words anyone ever supposed to type – leaves a simple starter and John quickly breaks the pack, claret everywhere. But is he on one? Yes he is, and this is a great chance.

SELBY 5-4 HIGGINS

John can't drain the yellow, but that's enough for the frame.

SELBY 5-3 HIGGINS (31-69)

This is now the longest frame of a match that's proceeded more swiftly than many might've expected. And one might soon be over, Selbz leaving an opener than John bags...

SELBY 5-3 HIGGINS (31-55)

Mark misses a thin cut played as a shot to nothing – by miles – so John strokes a starter down left corner. But can he come off the black to develop one or both of the remaining reds? He cannot, thus the chase for them is on.

SELBY 5-3 HIGGINS (31-47)

John runs out of position so plays safe with three reds left, two on that rail – though the black is now out of the road.

SELBY 5-3 HIGGINS (31-35)

John forges in front but will need the two reds on the top rail so there's work to be done yet - especially as the black is blocking the route to one pocket.

SELBY 5-3 HIGGINS (31-7)

Ach, he misses one to the green bag, but the pot that John produces it good, a tight cut to the yellow with the rest. The blue follows, just about, and this is a chance to take command of the frame.

SELBY 5-3 HIGGINS (31-0)

Mark wobbles in a red looking feart it won't drop and begins accumulating again. It's so great to see him playing like him, and if he can see this frame out, it'll be a long way back for John.

SELBY 5-3 HIGGINS (16-0)

Mark's been chasing position a little and shonuff he can't cut home to right corner with the rest ... but leaves nothing.

SELBY 5-3 HIGGINS (7-0)

John will know he needs to get off to a good start tonight, but he misses to left corner and Mark gets away, sliding a clever pot to left-centre to keep himself in the balls. He's looking in good control, but in recent times he's been settled at the table only to miss a ball he shouldn't.

AND OFF WE GO!

I'M LOOKING FORWard to this

Two absolute legends of our sport, going at it for a pot. Sounds good to me.

EVENING ALL

We go again!

THANKS FOR FOLLOWING THE ACTION WITH US...

We will be back at 7pm as these two battle to a conclusion to see who takes home the British Open championship. Let's hope for the same quality then.

HIGGINS 3-5 SELBY

A total clearance of 135 ends one of the highest-quality sessions of snooker you will ever see. Higgins will seldom play as well as that and be behind.

HIGGINS 3-4 SELBY (0-100*)

The third century of the session, Selby's second, and it will give the Leicester man a two-frame advantage to take into this evening's session.

HIGGINS 3-4 SELBY (0-38*)

It is such a high-quality match up. Selby is at the table and looking well capable of going back two frames in front.

HIGGINS 3-4 SELBY

Higgins fights back with his first century of the final. A break of 104.

HIGGINS 2-4 SELBY (6*-0)

Higgins is back on the table and this time in a position to make it pay.

IGGINS 2-4 SELBY (1-0)

Higgins with the first pot in what is a crucial frame for him.

HIGGINS 2-4 SELBY

He is looking irrepressible at present. A fantastic break of 88 to take a two-frame lead.

HIGGINS 2-3 SELBY (43-51*)

Selby has now taken the lead and is favourite for the frame.

HIGGINS 2-3 SELBY (43-5*)

The safety was not safe enough. Selby with another fantastic pot hitting the red from just before the blue into the bottom left pocket.

HIGGINS 2-3 SELBY (43-0)

Higgins runs out of position and plays safe to near baulk.

HIGGINS 2-3 SELBY (16*-0)

Higgins this time is first with his hand on the table. Can he do what Selby has done in the last two frames and take the frame in one visit.

HIGGINS 2-3 SELBY

A fabulous total clearance of 137 puts Leicester's finest into the lead.

HIGGINS 2-2 SELBY (0-104*)

Selby has the first century of the final.

HIGGINS 2-2 SELBY (0-69*)

Another fine break from Selby which will take him ahead in this high-quality match.

HIGGINS 2-2 SELBY (0-1*)

A safety exchange is again ended with a fantastic long pot. These two are both in fine form.

HIGGINS 2-2 SELBY

He deserved a century but the last red refused to drop in the bottom right corner. As good a break as you'll see that from Selby. And we are all square at the mid-session interval.

HIGGINS 2-1 SELBY (1-69*)

A fantastic break of 69 has won him the frame now - and he's not done yet.

HIGGINS 2-1 SELBY (1-4*)

Selby with a good long red to get on the board. It is a tricky table to work out but if anyone is suited to doing so, it is the Jester.

HIGGINS 2-1 SELBY (1-0)

A very different start to this match, with Selby missing a pot and opening the table up, though it took a great shot from Higgins to find a path way around the clustered reds but he can only play a snooker off the brown.

HIGGINS 2-1 SELBY

Selby ran out of position and was slightly loose with a safety but it required a fantastic pot from Higgins to put the frame beyond doubt.

HIGGINS 1-1 SELBY (60-4*)

Selby with a good long pot, then fine positional shot on the green. He is 56 behind with 59 on the table.

HIGGINS 1-1 SELBY (60-0)

As he approached frame ball, Higgins misses an attempted cannon to keep position on the black and he then leaves the brown safe and the ball on the balk cushion.

HIGGINS 1-1 SELBY (8*-0)

Another fine long dead-weight red from Higgins and though the black thereafter wobbles in the bottom left pocket, it eventually goes in and he has the opportunity now for a big break.

HIGGINS 1-1 SELBY

He falls short of the century, ending on 80, but most importantly, he sealed the frame to put the match all square.

HIGGINS 0-1 SELBY (45*-0)

Higgins breaks up the pack and now looks like he will win the frame in this visit, quite possibly with a century.

HIGGINS 0-1 SELBY (12*-0)

Selby misses a long pot and the white follows through into the bottom left pocket. Higgins follows up with a fine long pot leaving himself on the black.

HIGGINS 0-1 SELBY

A break of 63 seals the frame for Selby. When he is potting this well, he looks a tough man to beat.

HIGGINS 0-0 SELBY (12-38*)

Selby did the same a second time...and is then forced to take on a very difficult red which he pots with aplomb. And the table is now ready for him to put the frame beyond doubt.

HIGGINS 0-0 SELBY (6-37)

I said that...and then Selby misses an attempted safety off the bottom cushion and hits the pink. Higgins gets the ball replaced.

HIGGINS 0-0 SELBY (0-37)

High-class safety play from both players. It's not going to be a fast game, but one for the connoisseurs.

HIGGINS 0-0 SELBY (0-37)

A polished break of 37 which ends with a safety leaving the ball tight to the balk cushion.

HIGGINS 0-0 SELBY (0-5*)

Selby opens the scoring with a long red and the table looks well set up for a big break.

HIGGINS 0-0 SELBY (0-0)

An early safety exchange from these two canniest of operators.

hELLO AND WELCOME!

It all comes down to this! The best of 19 frames to decide the 2024 British Open champion with John Higgins and Mark Selby locking horns for a shot at glory. The Wizard of Wishaw is gunning for his fifth title in this tournament while Selby is eyeing his first, and looking to go one better than his loss to Mark Williams in last year's final.

Stay with us for all the action from opening break this afternoon to final pot later this evening.