British Open 2024: Mark Selby sets up final with John Higgins after coming through tense battle with Mark Allen
Updated 28/09/2024 at 23:30 GMT+1
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Mark Selby beat Mark Allen 6-3 to set up a clash with John Higgins in the final of the 2024 British Open. It was slow to get going but breaks of 105, 52, 95 and 77 helped 'The Jester' get over the line in an intriguing contest. Selby will face Higgins for the title in what promises to be another titanic tussle after the Scotsman whitewashed Oliver Lines 6-0 in the other semi-final.
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Video credit: TNT Sports
Mark Selby will play John Higgins in the final of the British Open after beating Mark Allen 6-3 in an enthralling battle between two of the game’s grittiest competitors.
It looked set to be a comfortable enough evening for 'The Jester' when he led 3-0 and 4-1 in the best-of-11 clash, but Allen hit back and will be left to rue chances he let slip in the final two frames.
But Selby was a worthy winner and sealed the victory in style, compiling a break of 77 to punish Allen’s profligacy.
The Englishman will take on Higgins in Sunday's final after the Scotsman whitewashed Oliver Lines 6-0 in the earlier semi-final.
"I played well there from start to finish, apart from the end when it got a bit twitchy," Selby told ITV Sport. "This season so far, I've been playing okay, but not getting results. It is nice to bring your form off the practice table."
On playing Higgins in the final, he added: "John is an all-time great, and a great lad. An incredible player. I'm really looking forward to it."
Renowned as two of the best match players in the game, the first frame showed how much respect the pair had for each other as neither was willing to leave the other a chance to get his hand on the table.
In fact, just 12 points had been scored after half an hour before the balls were re-racked and it was Selby who eventually clinched the opener.
Selby was then handed an opportunity in the second after an Allen miss left a red on and he took advantage, surgically picking off reds in a break of 105 that put him 2-0 ahead in the race to six.
Allen looked poised to reduce his arrears in the next until he missed a double on the yellow, allowing Selby in to steal the frame, but the Northern Irishman finally got on the board to trail 3-1 at the interval.
Selby restored his three-frame cushion when the match resumed before Allen started producing something like the kind of attacking snooker he used to be known for.
A break of 50 in the sixth frame came to an end when he went in-off after a routine blue but he returned to mop up the colours after Selby failed to pounce, while a stunning 130 in the next made it 4-3.
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Allen got in first in the eighth frame as he sought to level, but when he ran out of position on 36, Selby made him pay with a run of 95 to get within one of victory.
And the final frame followed a similar pattern. Allen made 50 before missing a plant and Selby compiled a composed 77 to seal the win.
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