Selby beats Higgins to win first British Open title

Mark Selby claimed his first British Open title by beating chap four-time world champion John Higgins successful Sunday's final.

The world number 5 clinched a 10-5 triumph successful Cheltenham successful his first awesome last since losing to Mark Williams astatine past year's British Open.

It is nan 41-year-old's first ranking title since winning nan WST Classic successful March 2023 and nan 23rd of nan Englishman's career.

He lifted nan Clive Everton Trophy successful nan week that snooker mislaid nan renowned broadcaster and journalist, who died astatine nan property of 87.

The British Open trophy was named successful Everton's honour successful 2022, successful nickname of his publication to nan sport.

Higgins, 49, was playing successful his first ranking arena last since April 2022 and will climb backmost up to 14th successful nan world - conscionable a week aft nan Scot dropped retired of nan world's apical 16 for nan first clip since 1995.

Selby led 5-3 aft a high-quality opening session, pinch a break of astatine slightest 60 successful each 8 frames, including 3 centuries.

Selby went into a 4-2 lead by reeling disconnected 3 consecutive frames, including a 137 break.

Higgins made 105 to propulsion 1 back, but Selby replied pinch a 135 to extremity nan convention connected top.

The first framework of nan evening went to Higgins, cutting his shortage to conscionable one, but Selby captured 5 of nan adjacent six to necktie up victory, making runs of 91 and 93 successful nan past 2 to decorativeness successful style.