Many people could be forgiven for thinking the second semi-final of the International Championship is effectively the final as Mark Selby and John Higgins collide in a real heavyweight battle. Whoever wins this match on Saturday will be a huge favourite in the final so this could be the toughest hurdle between them and the title.
These two have met on some of the biggest occasions in the sport including a world final down the years but with the opportunity for a significant title ahead of them this is pretty big in its own right and there is always something extra significant about a two session match like this one.
Mark Selby has had to come through a tricky portion of the draw having beaten the classy Michael White and the pure quality of Neil Robertson in the last two rounds. To do it with something to spare is all the more eye catching.
John Higgins has seen off Shaun Murphy and Joe Perry in the last two rounds and he has looked very strong indeed in this tournament. He beat Murphy 6-0 and was 4-0 up on Perry before eventually coming through 6-3 so at one stage of this event he had won 15 successive frames which is pretty crazy given the opposition he has faced.
Anyone who followed my pre-tournament bets will be on Higgins at effectively 10/1 to win this match and secure the place portion of the outright bet so we’ve no need to go in on him again even though I think he’s great value at 6/4.
The last time these two met in a proper match was at the 2014 Masters. That match went to a deciding frame with Selby winning 6-5 and even though this match is over a longer format I think this one will be just as tight.
These are probably the two best match players in the game and neither know when they are beaten. Both are excellent under pressure so I’m expecting a really tight semi-final and I fully expect to see at least 15 frames in it if not all 17.
Back Over 14.5 frames for a 4/10 stake at 1.85 with Coral
Blog snooker YTD: +59.14pts*
*with Friday’s bet outstanding.
