MARK SELBY is in the hunt for a first Welsh Open title since 2008 after a “rubbish” win over John Higgins. The pair might share eight world snooker titles between them but they served up some dross over the course of five hours – with the best break of 84 coming in the closing frame from Selby. A tight first was decided on a respotted black, which took ten minutes to sink, and then frame five took more than an hour to complete.
![[Mark Selby taking a shot during a snooker match.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/mark-selby-takes-shot-quarter-972032799.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
What prolonged the afternoon session was the interruption to frame four when a woman fainted in the crowd. Selby, 41, was the 5-4 winner and he is involved in the semi-finals of the Welsh Open for the first time since 2012. This tournament saw the first ranking title success of his career 17 years ago when he beat Ronnie O’Sullivan 9-8 in the final in Newport. The Leicester Jester said: “It was a rubbish game from both of us from start to finish.
![[John Higgins chalking his cue during a snooker match.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/john-higgins-chalks-cue-quarter-971982000.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
“We just seemed to bring each other down. We both missed a few. It’s strange. If one person plays well, the other person seems to raise their game as well. “This was the opposite. We both struggled. Then it got a bit edgy. I’m happy to win. It went on for so long, so to lose a game like that is heartbreaking. “While you’re in the tournament, you can only improve. It was tough to keep my concentration.
CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS. “I hope they don’t put my semi-final on at night – otherwise I’ll probably finish up playing at 5am on Sunday.”. Higgins, 49, said: “A mammoth game. I gave everything in that game. It was tough conditions. “I’m disappointed. I have got deficiencies in my game. I know I cannot bring myself to play the right shot. “At 3-3 each, 60 in front, I had to play the high black into the pack. But I don’t have the cue power to play those types of shots.”.
