Mark Selby Triumphs Over John Higgins in Nail-Biting Welsh Open Quarter-Final

In a gripping Welsh Open quarter-final at Venue Cymru, Llandudno, Mark Selby edged past John Higgins with a 5-4 victory, showcasing his resilience and tactical prowess. The match was a rollercoaster of emotions, with both players struggling to find their rhythm, leading to several scrappy frames.

"We both struggled and brought each other down, there were a lot of scrappy frames," Selby commented post-match. "If one of us had played better, the other might have raised his game. The only positive for me is that I got over the line and I can only improve tomorrow."

The game had a brief interruption when Selby was leading 2-1, as a spectator fell ill in the audience. Fortunately, the situation was resolved without any serious consequences, allowing the match to continue.

Higgins, a five-time champion, managed to level the score at 2-2 and even took the lead for the first time by winning three consecutive frames. However, Selby, a four-time world champion, fought back to reclaim the lead, only for Higgins to level again, pushing the match into a tense and drawn-out final frame.

Selby's victory sets up an exciting semi-final clash with Luca Brecel, the 2023 World Champion, who defeated Jackson Page 5-2 in the other quarter-final. Brecel, who had previously beaten Selby in the final of the World Championship two years ago, showcased his skills with breaks of 94 and 76 to secure his place in the semi-finals.

The semi-final line-up was completed by Stephen Maguire, the 2013 Welsh Open winner, who triumphed over Jack Lisowski 5-3, and Ali Carter, the 2009 winner, who sealed a 5-3 victory over Joe O'Connor with a break of 91.

The stage is set for an exhilarating semi-final, with Selby looking to avenge his past defeat against Brecel and continue his quest for another Welsh Open title.