Mark Selby leads John Higgins 5-3 after a tremendous opening session at the Unibet British Open final in Cheltenham, with a break of at least 60 in all eight frames so far.
The tie resumes at 7pm on Sunday, with first to ten frames to lift the Clive Everton Trophy and earn £100,000. This battle between two all-time greats, with four World Championship titles apiece, has lived up to its billing, with three centuries and five more breaks of 60 or more.
Selby took the opening frame with a run of 63, then Higgins hit back with 80 and 60 to lead 2-1, before Selby levelled with an 85.
After the interval, Selby raised the standard again with a tremendous 137 total clearance. In frame six, Higgins made 43 before running out of position and Selby punished him with a superb 88. Back came Higgins with 105 to close to 4-3, only for his opponent to finish the session with another total clearance of 135.
Selby is aiming for his 23rd ranking title and first since the WST Classic in March 2023. This is his 35th ranking final and he is hoping to win the British Open for the first time, having finished runner-up to Mark Williams last year.
The 41-year-old from Leicester had five centuries and nine more breaks over 50 en route to the final, conceding 16 frames.
Higgins has also had a lengthy spell without a ranking title, dating back to the 2021 Players Championship. This is his 56th ranking final and first since the 2022 Tour Championship, and the Wishaw cueman is aiming for a 32nd ranking title. Age 49 years and 134 days, Higgins could become the oldest ranking event winner since Ray Reardon, who had just turned 50 when he landed the 1982 Professional Players Tournament.
The Scot lifted the British Open trophy in 1995, 1998, 2001 and 2004, and is currently tied with Stephen Hendry on four titles apiece, so victory today would set a new record. In reaching the final he made two centuries and 12 more breaks over 50, conceding only six frames in six matches.
The pair have met 23 times over the past 19 years, with Selby leading the head to head 14-9. They have clashed in two Crucible finals - Higgins winning 18-13 in 2007 then Selby gaining revenge with an 18-15 success in 2017. The Englishman also won their most recent final, 10-9 at the 2018 China Championship.
Currently ranked fifth, Selby will move up one place to fourth above Ronnie O'Sullivan if he wins the title. Higgins had a 29-year unbroken sequence inside the top 16 before dropping to 17th a week ago. But he's immediately back inside the elite, 14th if he loses the final today and 13th if he wins.