Mark Selby won a tense encounter against John Higgins in York to reach the Betway UK Championship semi-finals. He eventually closed out the match to win 6-5 after five hours of captivating snooker climaxed in a nail-biting deciding frame in which there were a number of shifts in momentum.
Selby is attempting to end the year in which he landed his second world title by also lifting the UK trophy for a second time and he looked to have his work cut out against the in-form Scot.
Higgins had made a sluggish start and was looking like being cut adrift when Selby made breaks of 119, 63 and 67 to surge 3-0 in front, so he was relieved to grab a frame before the interval to gain a foothold.
The match then swung the Scot’s way and the next three frames took him in front at 4-3. Selby would not be shaken off, though, and the match went all the way to the colours in the decider.
The tension inside the Barbican could hardly have been greater before Higgins fluked the yellow and had a priceless opening but then failed to cut back the green into its own pocket and Selby capitalised.
“I’m gutted,” Higgins said. “I’d rather lose 6-0 than lose 6-5.” When it was pointed out he had shown great fight, he said: “Who cares? You show fight but you still lose. It’s still gutting to lose a tough match.”
Selby will face Shaun Murphy on Saturday for a place in the final. Murphy, the 2008 UK champion, swept into the last four with a 6-1 victory over the Belgian Luca Brecel.
Ronnie O’Sullivan stayed on course for a record-equalling sixth UK Championship title as Mark Williams became the latest victim of his relentless march in York. The former world champion Williams kept pace with O’Sullivan early on before being cast aside after the interval as the title favourite completed a 6-2 victory.
It will be a ninth semi-final appearance at snooker’s second biggest ranking tournament for O’Sullivan on Saturday.
Breaks of 64, 60 and 78 carried O’Sullivan, who turns 41 on Monday, to a comfortable victory. He has dropped only five frames in five matches so far as he aims to match Steve Davis’ record haul of UK triumphs.