Selby secures Welsh Open semi-final berth

Mark Selby yesterday secured a Welsh Open semi-final berth with victory over John Higgins - who believes that Selby has a great chance of taking his World Championship crown.

Selby's 5-2 win sets up a last four meeting with Stephen Hendry today. He is in the best form of his life, having won the SAGA Insurance Masters last month, and is now two wins away from his first ranking title.

Selby took the first two frames with a top break of 33, then Higgins pulled one back with a 57. Selby found another gear and moved 4-1 ahead with 71 and 67. Higgins battled on with a 96, only for Selby to secure victory in frame seven with a 101.

"Mark's got something special at the moment and he's playing with so much confidence," said Higgins, who beat Selby 18-13 in the Crucible final.

"If he keeps this up, there's only Ronnie O'Sullivan who can stop him at Sheffield."

Quarter-finals: Hendry bt Lee 5-2; Selby bt Higgins 5-2; O'Sullivan bt Carter 5-4; Murphy bt Perry 5-0.