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By Phil Harlow
BBC Sport at The Crucible
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Higgins has scored the two highest breaks in the tournament
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Scotland's John Higgins sent out a warning to his rivals with a classy display in a 10-5 first-round defeat of Mark Selby at The Crucible. Resuming with a 5-4 lead, Higgins won five out of six frames and scored the tournament's highest break with a 138, just beating his first session 136.
Selby never gave up and narrowed the gap to 7-5 with a 73, but Higgins gave the youngster few chances.
Higgins clinched the win after a lengthy tactical battle in the 15th.
The Scot said he was frustrated by his inconsistency despite a comprehensive win and two 130-plus breaks.
"It's been the story of my life in the last few years: I play good in patches and garbage in patches," he said.
"My concentration just goes to pot on occasions. Sometimes I don't enjoy it and other times I love it out there.
"But it's just snooker; after hearing the news about Paul Hunter you realise it doesn't really mean anything."
J HIGGINS (Sco) 10-5 M SELBY (Eng)
136-0 (136) 0-135 (135) 105-7 117-8 (51,66) 22-76 17-69 57-64 (53 Higgins) 84-21 (60) 106-0 (106) 76-50 (55) 138-0 (138) 1-100 (73) 88-37 105-0(71) 88-69
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MMIX
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