Selby fights back to beat Higgins

Mark Selby exacted some measure of revenge for defeat in the Crucible final by knocking John Higgins out of the 2007 Shanghai Masters yesterday.

Leicester's Selby enhanced his growing reputation as a rising snooker star as he came from 3-1 down to win 5-3 against world No 1 Higgins.

That puts him through to the quarter-finals at the Shanghai Grand Stage and a match against Stuart Bingham.

Higgins beat Selby 18-13 in the World final in May but has since lost to the 24-year-old twice - at an invitation event in Poland and again yesterday.

The Scot won the opening frame and made a break of 53 in the second only for Selby to steal it on the pink. But Higgins recovered to win the next two for a 3-1 advantage.

However, Selby was transformed by the interval as he fired in runs of 90, 74, 131 and 57 to reel off four frames in superb fashion.

"I don't know whether Mark's got my number now, but he's definitely a very good player," said Higgins. "I didn't do a lot wrong in the last four frames."

Selby said: "I'm really chuffed to bits with that result. Beating John has given me a lot of confidence to go on and win the tournament.

"I played really well in the second half of the match and had some good breaks. I think I was trying too hard in the first part, but I just relaxed after the interval and performed like I know I could do."

Other results: Bingham bt Pettman 5-4; Day bt McCulloch 5-3; Harold bt Davis 5-1; Dott bt Ding 5-1; Dale bt Gunnell 5-1;