Selby completes comeback, claims 3rd world crown
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E-mail China.org.cn, May 2, 2017
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Mark Selby won his third Betfred World Championship crown since 2014 by beating John Higgins 18-15 in the final, becoming only the fourth player to successfully defend the title at the Crucible.
Selby rubber-stamped his reputation as the best player of the current era as he came from 10-4 down to win 14 of the last 19 frames against four-time champion Higgins.
Having lifted the trophy in 2014 and 2016, Leicester's 33-year-old Selby follows Steve Davis (1983-4 and 1987-9), Stephen Hendry (1992-96) and Ronnie O'Sullivan (2012-13) as the only players to win back to back titles in the Crucible era, which began 1977.
Scotland's Higgins, at 41 the oldest world finalist in 35 years, dominated the early exchanges on Sunday and at 10-4 looked to be cruising to a fifth world crown, which would have equalled O'Sullivan's tally. But, worn out by the effort of reaching the final at snooker's toughest endurance test, Higgins faded through the key part of the battle. He made an impressive late rally but in the end was no match for his unflappable and determined opponent.
The same two players met in 2007 when Higgins won 18-13, but in the decade since, Selby has matured immeasurably. Ice cool under pressure, tough as nails and superb in every department of the game, he is the successor to Davis and Higgins himself as the best all-round player in the sport. He has held the world number one position for 27 months – with his lead at the top of the rankings only increasing.
Leading 13-11 after the third session, Selby won the opening frame tonight with breaks of 35 and 37 to extend his lead. He might have taken the next as well from 45 points behind, but after making 14 went for a risky long pot on the final red to a baulk corner and missed his target, allowing Higgins to claw one back.
Selby ignored that set back and made a break of 71 to win frame 27, and he dominated the next as well, sealing it with a run of 70 to make it 16-12 at the interval. Higgins hit back with an 88 clearance to pull one back,and he gathered momentum with a brilliant 111 to make it 16-14.
Frame 31 came down to a safety battle on the last red, and Higgins, leading 50-47, got the better of the exchange and made a fine clearance which included an excellent pot on the final brown.
Embracing the pressure, Selby responded with a marvellous 131 to go two up with three to play at 17-15. There were no signs of nerves with Selby on the verge of the finish line. He compiled 71, a break of steel inside the heat of Sheffield's Crucible, to clinch the title.
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