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Mark Selby wins International snooker title (Includes interview and first-hand account)

Mark Selby produced a showcase of top flight snooker in winning the International Championship, crushing his Chinese opponent. The final was played at Daqing, China, with the match referred by Peggy Li.

Both players had come through their semi-final matches relatively easily. Selby comparably beat former world champion Stuart Bingham 9-3, aided by breaks of 103 and 101; and Ding beat the in-form player of the season so far, Judd Trump, by a similarly comfortable nine frames to four. Ding compiled a magnificent break of 134 on route to victory. It was a different Ding who contested Sunday;s final.

In the final, Selby, the current world champion, played superbly. Ding, in contrast, struggled and his best break was only 47. The last time these two players met was in the final of last season’s world championship, where they played an altogether tighter match which went 18-14 to Selby. In the final, Ding missed too many easy balls and his safety shorts failed to find the baulk cushion on too many occasions.

Selby took the opening two frames with big breaks, runs of 87 and 83. This was followed by two tactical exchanges, where the third frame went to Selby and fourth to Ding by 70 points to 58. This proved to be Ding’s only success of the day. The Chinese player clinched this frame with a nerve-wracking clearance from green to black.

Selby then closed out the session, and established an eight frames to one lead, by compiling three breaks over 50. In the final five frames Ding scored just 58 points. Selby’s long potting was good, but it was his safety and tactical play that shined and it his iron-tight safety presented Ding with too few scoring opportunities.

When the second session resumed, whether Ding was prepared to mount a fight back or not he was given little opportunity to do so. Although Ding led 54-0 in the tenth frame, Selby cleared up with a solid break of 62 to the black. In what proved to be the final frame of the session, Selby compiled a break of 78 and won the frame without his opponent scoring.

In winning the title, Selby secured his ninth major tournament. He collected a first prize of £125,000 ($150,000).

The frame scores were (Selby first):

Session 1:

94-5 (87), 83-0 (83), 62-54, 58-70, 79-16 (67), 68-5, 71-29 (66), 82-7, 69-1 (50)

Session 2:

62-54 (62), 78-0 (78)

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Written By

Dr. Tim Sandle is Digital Journal's Editor-at-Large for science news. Tim specializes in science, technology, environmental, business, and health journalism. He is additionally a practising microbiologist; and an author. He is also interested in history, politics and current affairs.

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