Snooker

Good that Selby & Ding are delivering the goods, the match slugging one way then the other. Should be a gripping afternoon.

Selby into the final 17-15.
Can't help feeling gutted for Ding .

Higgins leads Hawkins 16-8 so a Selby-Higgins final seems inevitable.

I was hoping Ding could make a comeback and win, I like Selby but not as much as a couple of years ago.

Higgins is very lucky to be 8 frames ahead hawkins. hawkins was unlucky in a lot of the early frames this morning

Selby should walk it unless Higgins really ups his game

Yes I tend to think it could be a one sided final now. I hope I'm wrong though. Hawkins has had a lot of bad run of the ball but in all fairness he has made far too many unforced errors as well. Higgins has made a lot of mistakes but got away with them.

I feel awful for Ding.
He has been by far the most entertaining player to watch in the tournament. Against Selby he showed the patience of a saint and impeccable discipline and mental strength but still lost to a machine like opponent.

I am in line to profit from a pre tournament bet on a Selby-Higgins final but to be honest I would rather have foregone the winnings in favour of Ding being in the final.
Oh well c'est la vie .

Great see-saw semi-final match (try saying that when your pissed) between Ding & Selby that would have been worthy of any final.I just hope Selby pulls it off in the final as I cannot stand Higgins.

Higgins has got a very pretty wife, though.

Amazed to think Selby was a finalist 10 years ago, and that this will be the rematch.

THE FINAL - Day One.

Higgins in first in frame one. Breaks down. Selby with a run of 76. 1-0.
Low scoring second frame which Higgins gets the better of...... 1-1.
A 62 and a 58 for Selby ........ 2-1.
Boooooom 141 from Higgins and it's level again. Looking like a potential classic early doors.
But then the World Champion has a nightmare 4 frames. The Scot rattles in breaks of 63 and and 95 to go 2 clear.
Selby builds a 53 point lead in frame 7 but falters. Higgins ruthlessly clears with a 58 for 5-2 and takes the last of the session for a 6-2 advantage.

Into the evening we go and Selby rolls in an 86 to narrow to 3-6. Higgins responds with 2 granite like match play frames to go 8-3 up and has a chance for 9-3 but a bad miss costs him and Selby recovers to 4 behind again.
Another granite frame from the Wizard of Wishaw and it's 9-4. A run of 76 and all of a sudden the World Champion is in desperate trouble. Alarm bells ringing loudly for Selby.
Critical last 3 frames of the day for the Leicester cueman.
Bang an 81 break.
Crash a 121 clearance.
6-10.
Monumental last frame of the day then for the wallop. Selby and Higgins both have chances.
Long pot red for Selby...........in.
Chance not easy, still with a crunch blue........in. Pressure........back against the wall. World Champion shows his mettle. Fist pump. Wallop!!
Trails by only 3 overnight.
Set up for the grand finale tomorrow.
The Master and the apprentice day two is ready to rock.

If you are Selby you will be delighted to be only 10-7 down, if you are Higgins you will think this was a missed opportunity to be 11-6 or 12-5 up

Is Selby too tired, or is Higgins too old? Stay tuned!