Selby faces stiff challenge

Qualifier Mark Selby will today have to produce the greatest comeback in the final of the 888.com World Championships to deny John Higgins a second crown.

Higgins produced top-notch matchplay snooker to storm into a 12-4 overnight lead against the 23-year-old from Leicester in England, who looked drained after his marathon last-frame wins over Ali Carter and Shaun Murphy.

History is against Selby staging a revival as the biggest overnight deficit overturned to lift the title is 10-6 – by Mark Williams (2000) and Murphy (2005) - both at the expense of Matthew Stevens.

The last time a player was 12-4 down going into the second day was Jimmy White in 1993 when he eventually lost 18-5 to Stephen Hendry.

That match finished with a session to spare and there is a danger of the same happening in 2007 with Selby having to win three of the eight frames on Monday afternoon to avoid that embarrassing scenario.

Higgins moved into top gear after a nervy start to the best-of35-frame showdown and won seven frames in a row to take total command.

Selby led 3-2 at one juncture but from that point the player known as the ’Wizard of Wishaw’ conjured up some magical snooker to move almost out of sight of his opponent.

The confidence seemed to drain out of Selby who was kept off the table for lengthy periods and also never had the rub of the green when among the balls.

Former world champion Dennis Taylor paid tribute to Higgins and said: “He is one of the greatest break-builders the game has ever seen.

“Stephen Hendry was out on his own in that department with Ronnie O’Sullivan not far behind but John Higgins is also up there as one of the best.”

Higgins held a 5-3 advantage after the opening session in which Selby’s 116 was his 11th century of the tournament – more than anyone else.

But it was Higgins who was on song when play resumed and a 100 in frame 11 and 106 in frame 16 took his only personal ton tally to 10 and the overall number to 66.

It completed a special 24 hours for Higgins who has been assured of the number one spot in the world rankings for the 2007-2008 campaign.

There is also every chance that the record number of centuries in the world tournament – 68 in 2002 – could be beaten.