Selby fights back

Mark Selby completed a pre-interval whitewash against John Higgins to revive hopes of winning his first 888.com World Championship title at the Crucible Theatre.

Selby looked as if he faced a hopeless situation when he trailed 12-4 overnight in the best of 35 encounter – a deficit from which no-one has recovered to win in the history of the tournament.

However, qualifier Selby was in inspired form with some deadly potting while a shell-shocked Higgins struggled for any sort of rhythm, letting his lead slip to 12-8.

Selby had to make early inroads into Higgins’ lead to have any chance of putting the 1998 champion under pressure – and he made an encouraging start.

A run of 34 to the final yellow secured the opening frame and then the 23-year-old made an impressive 109 break in the next to reduce the gap to 12-6.

It was his 12th century of the tournament – more than anyone else – and took the overall tally for the fortnight to 67, only one off the record total set in 2002.

Selby seemed in a relaxed frame of mind and was seen joking and laughing with members of the audience which included a sizeable following from his native Leicester.

His revival continued in the next frame with a decisive run of 65 and looked a completely different player to the one who appeared drained yesterday after his last-frame wins over Ali Carter and Shaun Murphy.

He was first amongst the balls in the final frame before the interval and compiled 62 before missing a red into the right middle pocket.

A superb long red set him on the way to the point where Higgins needed snookers – and conceded.

It was in contrast to the opening day when Higgins had produced top notch matchplay snooker and was in total command after winning four frames in a row.

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 but Selby’s spirited response ensured he avoided that sort of embarrassment.