“In the Tour Championship final in Manchester will play Mark Slby and John Higgins”, – WRITE: Sport.ua
After the devastating victory of Slby over Nile Robertson in the quarterfinals (10: 1) the victory over Dina was almost the same confident. Slby dominated from the outset to the final blow. Close to the peak of the form, the four-time world champion has already developed 67 Senchuri-brownies in the current season-the best indicator in his career.
On Sunday, April 6, a joker awaits a meeting with another legend – John Higgins. It will be a classic confrontation: the repetition of the finals of the 2007 World Cup, where Higgins (18:13) won, and the 2017 finals, when Selby took revenge (18:15).
They also met this season in the British Open finals when Selby won (10: 5) and won the first of his three titles this season. The winner of the finals (up to 10 frames) will receive the trophy and the main prize – £ 150 thousand.
The 41-year-old Slby from Leicester will play in his 37th rating finals, fighting for the 25th title. Victory will allow him to compare with Nile Robertson in the seventh place in the historical standings of the winners of the tournaments.
It will be his first Tour Championship finale – he had lost three times in the semifinals three times (2020, 2021, 2023). If he wins, for the first time since the 2016/17 season he wins four trophies per season.
Won 6: 2 after the first session, the third number of the world rating Slby quickly increased the advantage over Dina, making 104 points in the starting frame of the evening part, and then confidently took the tenth frame (8: 2).
In the 11th Freime, Dean had a chance for a series, but at the expense of 33:32 he was mistaken with a difficult stroke of the plan, giving Slby the opportunity to make 54 points and approach the distance of one Freym to the victory (9: 2).
Dean could play one frame and went to a possible break of 145 points – the highest in a week, but again risked the complex plan, did not hit, and Slby made a clearance of 58 points, closing the match (10: 2).
Mark Selby, Whose first finals took place 22 years ago on Scottish Open., I said: “I played well all day. The last frame in the day session was important, because 6: 2 is better than 5: 3 – then the evening could have happened differently.
This season I play more confident, so I can be more free and natural in my game. I think that’s why I score more points. Last season, my safe-grade has failed, but now it is again at the level that suits me.
I hope both me and John will show my best game – he is one of my favorite players of all time, and his level at that age is incredible. It’s a chance to check your level. I got fun of call this week and remained focused. ”
According to World Snooker Tour
Snooker. 2025 Tour Championship
Manchester (England), March 31 – April 6
1/2 finals, 05.04.2025
Mark Slby (England) – Dean Junhi (China) – 10: 2
The grid of the tournament
Video match