Mark Selby romped to a 10-2 victory over Ding Junhui to stay on course for a fourth title of the season, setting up a blockbuster tie with John Higgins in the final of the Sportsbet.io Tour Championship in Manchester.
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Having beaten Neil Robertson by a remarkable 10-1 scoreline in the quarter-finals, Selby's win over Ding was almost as emphatic as he dominated from start to finish. Very close to the top of his game, the four-time World Champion has made 67 centuries this season, the highest tally of his career.
On Sunday he will meet another all-time great in Higgins in what promises to be a classic. It's a repeat of the 2007 Crucible final, which Higgins won 18-13, and the 2017 final when Selby gained revenge 18-15. They also clashed earlier this season in the Unibet British Open final, Selby winning 10-5 to land the first of three titles this term. First to ten frames this time will capture the trophy and a top prize of £150,000.
Leicester's 41-year-old Selby will be playing in his 37th ranking final and looking for a 25th title, which would bring him level with Neil Robertson in seventh place on the all time list. This will be his first Tour Championship final, having previous lost in the semis in 2020, 2021 and 2023. If he wins the title, it will be the first time he has lifted four trophies in a season since 2016/17.
Leading 6-2 after the first session, world number three Selby soon extended his advantage with a break of 104 in the opening frame tonight, then dominated the tenth for 8-2. Ding had a scoring chance in frame 11 but, trailing 33-32, ran out of position then went for a risky plant which missed its target and gifted Selby the chance to make 54 to move within one of the winning post.
Ding looked set to pull one back but, on a break of 70, went for another tough plant, chasing a possible 145 which would have been the highest of the week. Instead he let Selby back into the frame, and the Englishman eventually cleared with 58.
"I played good stuff all day," said Selby, whose first ranking final came at the Scottish Open 22 years ago. "The last frame of the afternoon session was important, to go 6-2 ahead, as 5-3 could have made it a different game tonight. I have been playing with more belief this season and that has allowed me to be more natural and free-flowing so I think that's why I have scored more heavily. My safety let me down last season but now it's back where I want it to be.
"I hope John and I both play as well as we have been doing all week. I have got so much respect for him, he's one of my all time favourite players, and for him to still be competing like this is incredible. It's a chance for me to judge where my game is. I have enjoyed the challenge this week and stayed focussed."