Mark Selby demolishes Ding Junhui to set up Tour Championship final with John Higgins in Manchester
Updated 06/04/2025 at 07:07 GMT+1
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Mark Selby booked his spot in the Tour Championship final with a 10-2 drubbing of Ding Junhui on Saturday night. The former world No. 1 compiled two centuries and five 50-plus breaks to secure a meeting with fellow four-time world champion John Higgins on Sunday. The Scotsman reached the penultimate ranking final of the season after a vintage 10-7 victory over Barry Hawkins on Friday.
Dale compares Selby to Djokovic - 'Hardest players to beat'
Video credit: TNT Sports
RESULT: SELBY 10-2 DING
Mark Selby demolished Ding Junhui 10-2 to set up a heavyweight Tour Championship final with fellow four-time world champion John Higgins in Manchester on Sunday.
Resuming 6-2 ahead from Saturday's one-sided afternoon session, Selby picked up from where he left off with breaks of 104, 54 and 58 helping the inspired Leicester player complete victory without the need for a mid-session interval in the second session.
A dejected Ding produced a 70 break in the 12th frame before a sell-out crowd, but even that was not enough as the 24-time ranking event winner dished up with a superb closing 58 seeing him pinch the frame by a point.
Higgins was equally impressive as he hit three centuries in a 10-7 win over Barry Hawkins in Friday's first semi-final to secure his place in the showpiece match.
The two-session final begins at 1pm on Sunday with the first man to 10 frames claiming the title and £150,000 first prize at the season's penultimate ranking event.
"I felt in control of myself all the way through the match," said Selby on ITV. "The dish is a bit easier when you are 9-2 up, but I held myself together well to win the match.
"I've been doubting myself for a little while, but I'm trying to up the tempo and get on with it a bit when I see the shot. It seems to be working so far.
"At the moment, I'm going for my shots, and fancy them. It's a good place to be.
"I've got so much respect for John as a player. He played phenomenally last night."
The old foes have met twice this season with Selby winning the British Open final 10-5 in Cheltenham in September before edging Higgins 5-4 in the quarter-finals of the Welsh Open in Llandudno in February, a tournament he progressed to win.
Selby is 16-8 ahead on the career head-to-heads with Higgins' last win over Selby coming in the quarter-finals of the 2021 Players Championship when he restricted his opponent to only seven points in a memorable 6-0 whitewash.
That was Higgins' last ranking tournament win until his 10-6 victory over Joe O'Connor in the World Open final in Yushan last month ended his four-year title drought.
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ROAD TO TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL
Mark Selby (Eng)
- Quarter-finals: Defeated Neil Robertson (Aus) 10-1
- Semi-finals: Defeated Ding Junhui (Chn) 10-2
John Higgins (Sco)
- Quarter-finals: Defeated Xiao Guodong (Chn) 10-3
- Semi-finals: Defeated Barry Hawkins (Eng) 10-7
FIRST SESSION REPORT
Mark Selby is on course for a Tour Championship final showdown with fellow four-time world champion John Higgins after building a 6-2 lead against Ding Junhui in the second semi-final.
Selby raced 3-1 clear with breaks of 83, 71 and 103 achieved in only 49 minutes on Saturday with Ding's 77 in the third frame keeping him in touch.
The second half of the afternoon session was much more cagey, but another 58 in the fifth frame saw Selby ease 4-1 ahead before dominating the sixth and eighth frames to open up a merited four-frame lead.
It could have been worse for former Masters and UK holder Ding, who managed to eke out the seventh frame from 49-0 behind on the pink to claim his second frame of the match.
"I feel like I've not put a foot wrong," said Selby on ITV. "If you had gave me 6-2, I've had took that.
"I practise a lot, and I'm trying to play like how I do in practice."
They play to a finish from 7pm on Saturday night with the first player to 10 reaching the final on Sunday.
Higgins booked his spot in the final of the season's penultimate ranking event with a dominant 10-7 win over Barry Hawkins on Friday.
SELBY 9-2 DING (71-70)
Selby finishing off this match in majestic fashion. In goes pink and black, and Selby completes a 10-2 victory over Ding to reach the Tour Championship final in Manchester.
SELBY 9-2 DING (53-70)
Colours all on their spots with yellow disappearing. Down goes green and brown...on the brink of final now.
SELBY 9-2 DING (44-70)
In goes the final tough red along top cushion, and there is nothing difficult left now. One red, pink and the colours to steal frame by a point.
SELBY 9-2 DING (22-70)
Ding screws back to baulk off a long red, but leaves Selby chance of red. Which he drains from distance to hold for the black. What a pot that is. Counter punch well and truly on now.
SELBY 9-2 DING (13-70)
Ding leaves Selby a chance to launch the counter-attack with a safety blunder, but he misses cannon on the black. Stunning pot on blue to the green bag to remain in the hunt in this frame heading for final four reds. Ding still a strong favourite.
SELBY 9-2 DING (0-70)
Ding knows this is a very decent chance as break hits 57. But he cannons the wrong red in trying to land on next red. No maximum though as he is forced to run up for the blue off a tough cut on a red. Loses the white on 70. Still 75 left on the table. So frame not yet over. Plant doesn't drop.
SELBY 9-2 DING (0-40)
Ding suddenly sizing up a 147 early on here as he reaches 40 with little or no drama. What a way to win a third frame of the semi-final this would be.
SELBY 9-2 DING (0-1)
Ding with an excellent cutback pot on red and lands on black too.
SELBY 9-2 DING (0-0)
Selby with a 10-1 win over Neil Robertson in the quarter-finals and has dropped only two frames so far in this semi-final. Ding has done well to win two frames the way this match has unravelled for him. Tough not to feel demoralised when you are subjected to this type of beating.
SELBY 8-2 DING (87-32)
Selby mops up the balls he needs to lead Ding 9-2. One more frame required, and he will be in Sunday's final to take on John Higgins. Just a question of when now, surely, not if.
SELBY 8-2 DING (53-32)
Looks like an easy enough task then for Selby to put away the 11th frame for a 9-2 lead. Two reds with blacks will leave Ding needing a snooker on colours.
SELBY 8-2 DING (38-32)
Selby was on brink of 9-2, but suddenly Ding is interested in reducing his arrears to five. Still miles behind, but this is a chance to at least force the match beyond the mid-session interval. Or was a chance as he misses cannon on a red off the black. Tries to make a plant on red. But nothing doing. And he sticks up a red over right middle for Mark. Which is not good news.
SELBY 8-2 DING (33-12)
Tricky red to left centre is dropped in, and he has a nice angle on blue too. Would you believe it. Pots blue, but ends up planting home a red. Chance then for Ding that he didn't see coming.
SELBY 8-2 DING (24-1)
Excellent shot by Mark to open up reds off black, and he can get back on the scoring trail again here with a red popping out its head to left middle. Devouring these pots tonight with some relish.
SELBY 8-2 DING (8-1)
Ding playing for pride as much as anything else. Handed a chance here early in the 11th frame after Selby comes off two cushions but leaves a red. And he slams red into green pocket. But then misses the green off spot. Lack of table time.
SELBY 8-2 DING (0-0)
Ding sitting out the first two frames of the evening session. Can't do much if you don't get in.
SELBY 7-2 DING (70-4)
Looking for one more red to seal the deal in this frame, and he teases red down table into green pocket. Ding won't be coming back to the table. An 8-2 lead is incoming. Selby two frames short of the winning post on Grand National Saturday. The thoroughbred with a run of 49 to extend the lead to 8-2. You don't earn extra cash for staying out there.
SELBY 7-2 DING (52-4)
Another excellent positional shot by Mark to land on next red off blue. Almost brings black out, but gets second prize by landing on blue. Inching towards another frame and a six-frame lead.
SELBY 7-2 DING (35-4)
Pink and black on side rails. So far from easy. But another excellent long blue is prodded into the yellow bag. Made that look easy. Which has been a theme of this match. And once again, the blue is drained from distance. Showing off all his potting wares in Manchester.
SELBY 7-2 DING (25-4)
At least Ding still in the mix in this frame. Has been a tough old day for China's leading player. Selby makes a plant on red, and comes back down table for the cutback green in baulk. Lovely piece of shot-making by the Leicester great.
SELBY 7-2 DING (21-4)
Bit straight on the blue on this occasion. Powers it home with a touch of left-hand side and is on a red. But he misses it by some margin and ends up seeing white kiss the red before racing down table into the green bag. A lucky break for Selby.
SELBY 7-2 DING (7-0)
Another superior mid-range red is put away by Selby before he cracks open the pack of reds off blue. Nice split too. Growing in confidence the longer this progresses.
SELBY 7-2 DING (0-0)
Selby breaks off for the 10th frame of this semi-final battle. If he wins the next three frames, we won't have a mid-session interval. Ding rapidly running out of road here.
SELBY 6-2 DING (110-0)
In goes blue and pink for his second ton. The Manchester crowd enjoying that. 104 of the best from Mark Selby. A 7-2 lead as he plods onwards in this semi-final.
SELBY 6-2 DING (92-0)
Chance to begin the evening with his second century of the match after releasing a red from a side cushion. What a shot that is.
SELBY 6-2 DING (85-0)
Looks like we are heading for Selby v Higgins in the final unless there is a dramatic change in the mood music.
SELBY 6-2 DING (77-0)
Nothing you can do in snooker if you don't get a chance. Anybody can sit in a seat. Even the greatest players can be frozen out.
SELBY 6-2 DING (64-0)
Not looking for too much more to add another frame to his overall haul in this semi-final. That error from Ding in failing to escape from the snooker proving so costly. But these balls still needed potting and that is what Selby is doing. Makes a tricky job look remarkably easy.
SELBY 6-2 DING (48-0)
Ding will be fearing the worst out there now. Selby just picking off these balls with so much ease. Break reaches 42. Very much dialled into the job at hand.
SELBY 6-2 DING (25-0)
Selby up and running here again then. Has to do the damage off blues and pinks, but plenty of reds out in the open to score with. What a chance then to move five frames clear for the first time in this semi-final.
SELBY 6-2 DING (7-0)
Selby with a solid containing safety shot in response. Ding has a go at a red to left middle. Far from easy, and red not on the potting angle. Early bout of tactical jousting. Selby with an excellent hide behind black, a feat he manages twice to apply pressure to Ding. Ding hits the pink rather than red in escaping from a snooker. Sticks up a red for Selby to get started.
SELBY 6-2 DING (0-0)
A very decent crowd inside Manchester Central for the ninth frame of this semi-final. Ding with the break-off shot for the ninth frame of a possible 19. Wonder how deep this will go this evening? Ding would be boosted by a fast start tonight. Ding with an aggressive safety shot in opening reds, and sees white crawl just behind yellow in baulk.
WELCOME BACK TO THE TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP
Almost ready to go with the second session of this semi-final between Mark Selby and Ding Junhui. Another full house inside Manchester Central for the second half of this match this evening.
Selby with a 6-2 lead from today's first session. He requires four frames to advance to tomorrow's final with John Higgins, who defeated Barry Hawkins 10-7 last night.
Could be a fascinating conclusion, but you suspect the first few frames are vital for Ding's future health in this match.
LATEST: SELBY 6-2 DING
Mark Selby is on course for a Tour Championship final showdown with fellow four-time world champion John Higgins after building a 6-2 lead against Ding Junhui in the second semi-final.
Selby raced 3-1 clear with breaks of 83, 71 and 103 achieved in only 49 minutes on Saturday with Ding's 77 in the third frame keeping him in touch.
The second half of the afternoon session was much more cagey, but another 58 in the fifth frame saw Selby ease 4-1 ahead before dominating the sixth and eighth frames to open up a merited four-frame lead.
It could have been worse for former Masters and UK holder Ding, who managed to eke out the seventh frame from 49-0 behind on the pink to claim his second frame of the match.
"I feel like I've not put a foot wrong," said Selby on ITV. "If you had gave me 6-2, I've had took that.
"I practise a lot, and I'm trying to play like how I do in practice."
They play to a finish from 7pm on Saturday night with the first player to 10 reaching the final on Sunday.
Higgins booked his spot in the final of the season's penultimate ranking event with a dominant 10-7 win over Barry Hawkins on Friday.
SELBY 5-2 DING (88-4)
Selby with a content look to end the session. He leads 6-2.
SELBY 5-2 DING (73-0)
Job done then for Selby, who will carry a 6-2 lead into the evening session in race to 10.
SELBY 5-2 DING (57-0)
Connects next time, but leaves red over top left hand corner. Selby with chance then to see out this frame for a 6-2 lead.
SELBY 5-2 DING (41-0)
Selby then with a lead of 36 points in what has become quite a scrap. Another long red is drilled home, but no colour to be found. Green and brown joined on a side cushion as another insurance policy. Ding fails to hit a red thin as the Selby lead heads over 40 points.
SELBY 5-2 DING (35-0)
But he loses the white in slotting red. Overruns for black. That is remarkable. Just the roll up behind the black.
SELBY 5-2 DING (34-0)
But an excellent recovery pot on a red to green pocket. Ideally on black too and can continue the break here. Reds suddenly opened up to build a solid lead here.
SELBY 5-2 DING (18-0)
Half decent effort to slot black and open up reds. One comes out over right middle which he knocks in. Made to look easy. But loses position on pink to next red. A bit frustrating.
SELBY 5-2 DING (4-0)
Selby gets first go at the balls then as he sinks a long red. Nicely down table from yellow to the loose red above black.
SELBY 5-2 DING (0-0)
Selby breaks off for the final frame of the first session.
SELBY 5-1 DING (49-64)
Ding with a fluke on the yellow to a middle bag before rolling in green along top cushion. Pops in brown and blue before pink is drained to the yellow bag. A big steal for Ding, who trailed 49-0 in that frame. Is that a turning point? Back to 5-2 behind. One more frame to come of the afternoon session.
SELBY 5-1 DING (49-44)
Coming down to the final two reds in this frame. Ding looking to release one of two reds from side rail. Which he does. Excellent cannon. And another excellent positional shot from blue to final red. Battling hard. But snookers himself behind blue off black. Escapes from snooker, and gets a result. Nothing for Selby to go at.
SELBY 5-1 DING (49-9)
Super plant on reds to right middle by Ding, but he ends up snookering himself behind the black. That is frustrating.
SELBY 5-1 DING (49-0)
More trouble on the cards for Ding in this frame. Sticks up another red for Selby to get started. Not the big one-visit hit on the go, but Mark happy enough to get the frame won anyway which suits. Enough reds in open to get this frame won for a 6-1 lead you would imagine. But out of position in potting black as white rattles in green pocket. Another sound safety to follow.
SELBY 5-1 DING (17-0)
Ding looking a bit dejected as he leaves a red over top pocket. Selby drops in a fiendishly difficult black off side cushion. But not nicely on the next red. Looked at using the extended swan neck, but decided against it. And plays a nice safety as the percentage shot.
SELBY 5-1 DING (9-0)
Fine escape from Ding coming off four cushions is followed by Selby slotting red to yellow bag. Not on pink so just safety to follow.
SELBY 5-1 DING (2-0)
Selby leaving Ding tied up behind balls at moment. Stuck behind green this time. Far from easy to get this safe.
SELBY 5-1 DING (1-0)
Ding with an early sighter at a red using the rest. Doesn't drop, but no real damage done. Selby with a fluked double on a red down length of the table. Rolls up behind yellow.
SELBY 5-1 DING (0-0)
Selby halfway up the hill towards the winning mark of 10. Ding breaks off for frame seven, the penultimate frame of the afternoon session in Manchester.
SELBY 4-1 DING (64-1)
Selby with a decent 35 to the final three reds. Which leaves Ding in his seat. Hopefully is comfortable enough having spent too much time in it. A big two frames coming up Ding's future health in this semi-final.
SELBY 4-1 DING (54-1)
Selby not far away from the winning post in this frame on Grand National Saturday. Ding has been largely frozen out of this contest since the third frame.
SELBY 4-1 DING (36-1)
Ding still involved in this match, but looks like he is going to require a revival this evening with Selby being offered plenty of opportunities to move 5-1 clear. Black now in the clear so every chance of a four-frame advantage.
SELBY 4-1 DING (28-1)
Sizing up a plant on reds after dropping in his latest pink. Black still surrounded by reds. Was far from easy as plant sticks in jaws. Was far from easy. But Ding can't get white back out from potting red. Faced with a safety shot.
SELBY 4-1 DING (15-0)
Selby on the move again early in the sixth frame then as Ding leaves him a look at a red. Far from easy, but has chance to do some productive work with the pink.
SELBY 4-1 DING (0-0)
Reds cramping space around the black so could be a bit scrappier this frame. Pink still freed up. So plenty of scope to score a few for whoever gets first chance.
SELBY 4-1 DING (0-0)
Three more frames to go in this first session on Grand National Saturday, and Selby looks like he is already kicking for home.
SELBY 3-1 DING (72-24)
Selby goes all out for a red down a side rail, and in it goes. What a superb pot. Back up for the blue, and in goes blue to leave Ding needing a snooker or two. Ding not interested in playing for snookers. A 4-1 lead for the world No. 3.
SELBY 3-1 DING (66-24)
Ding faced with the not insignificant issue of two reds being safe, and he misses an easy one with four reds left up.
SELBY 3-1 DING (58-8)
Ding left with a red to the yellow bag which he drains. First pot in 27 minutes. And a very fine piece of cueing. Now then. Probably feared frame was done and dusted, but can he get back into the running.
SELBY 3-1 DING (58-0)
Into pack off black, but for once the reds don't open out as planned. End of break on 58. Looks like a safety shot to follow. And he knocks a red safe before declaring on 58.
SELBY 3-1 DING (51-0)
Not ridiculous to assume Ding won't be coming back to the table in this fifth frame. First in, best dressed. Or something like that. Not really a match made for counter punching so far. Table seems to be playing better than yesterday.
SELBY 3-1 DING (27-0)
Selby will be looking to do the heavy lifting in this semi-final by carrying a decent lead into the second session. Building a healthy lead in this frame as we speak.
SELBY 3-1 DING (11-0)
Another long red is put away by Selby early in the fifth frame. Which has been the story of this semi-final so far. Another sublime pot on brown to take white off two cushions and back down for the next red.
SELBY 2-1 DING (103-0)
Double on the final red doesn't drop, but Selby weighs in with a 103 break this time for a 3-1 lead. 49 minutes for four frames sums up the blistering nature of this semi-final. Ding has to find a response. Good luck with that assignment.
SELBY 2-1 DING (83-0)
Every chance of a century coming up from Selby...
SELBY 2-1 DING (69-0)
Not really a day for going deep in the trenches. Scoring very much the name of the game on this table. In goes the red Selby needs to leave Ding needing a snooker. He won't be coming back to the table in this frame. 47 minutes gone, and four frames down in the blink of an eye.
SELBY 2-1 DING (55-0)
Another very fine shot from Selby to clip open a few more reds from the black. In goes red above pink spot, and back up for the blue. Looks like this could be a 3-1 lead for the Leicester man. Hotting up outside today and definitely inside the Manchester Central arena.
SELBY 2-1 DING (16-0)
Another supreme long red by Selby to can object ball and stun over for the black. Doesn't get much better than that on a snooker table. Chance to go to work again around the black spot.
SELBY 2-1 DING (0-0)
Selby breaks off for the fourth frame of this semi-final. And that is an excellent break-off shot from Mark with Ding welded to the baulk cushion. Ding finds a sort of containing safety in response as a red heads down to the baulk end.
SELBY 2-0 DING (0-77)
A case of anything you can do, I can do better...Or just as well. 71 and 83 from Mark, 77 from Ding. A red somehow doesn't drop to right centre, but 77 is a lovely response from the Chinese player. Selby punished for missing a long red of his own. Kill or be killed is the theme of this match so far. One more frame to come before the mid-sesh. Galloping along in this first session. Not sure safety has been thought about so far.
SELBY 2-0 DING (0-35)
This table looks like it is ripe for scoring. Running fast and true, and Ding is making the running in this third frame of a possible 19. Neither player hanging about out there.
SELBY 2-0 DING (0-3)
26 minutes, 30 seconds and it is a 2-0 advantage to Selby. Ding breaks off for the third frame in this semi-final joust. Selby well off potting angle with a long red for once, and he has stuck up Ding for an easy opener. Manchester crowd giving Ding plenty of encouragament.
SELBY 1-0 DING (71-0)
A 71 to go with the 83 and that is a 2-0 lead for the four-time world champion.
SELBY 1-0 DING (65-0)
Ding hasn't done much wrong so far today. Just has to digest the Selby gun show at the moment. Showing off plenty of muscle in the scoring stakes out there. Break reaches 65 with a mid-range red. The second frame in the bag for Mark.
SELBY 1-0 DING (53-0)
Important not to get ahead of yourself in this mood, but pockets are like barrels at the moment. All parts of the Selby game are working in unison. Ding opened the reds for these balls to be put away by the Leicester. Dangerous game when your opponent is in this sort of mode
SELBY 1-0 DING (37-0)
Another fabulous pot on a red using rest to bring white back up table for the blue. Perfect position. Seeing and thinking so clearly out there. Ding must already be fearing the worst here. Selby clearly oozing confidence.
SELBY 1-0 DING (5-0)
Selby is 14-13 ahead of Ding in the career head-to-heads. And he is looking to make a fast start to the second frame as a long red is drained without a second glance.
SELBY 1-0 DING (0-0)
Balls rolling for the second frame after that lovely start to the day by Selby. Ding has a poke at a long red. But nothing doing. And no harm done as white flies back to baulk cush.
SELBY 0-0 DING (83-4)
Tough red stays out with the rest, but that 83 looks like it could be a sign of things to come. What a delightful break from 'The Jester'. Ding had the best seat in the house for that knock. Not that he would thank you for it.
SELBY 0-0 DING (68-4)
And there we have it. Selby is one ahead in no time at all. Can he open with a century here? Won't be for lack of trying.
SELBY 0-0 DING (48-4)
If Higgins was good last night, this is every bit as impressive from Selby. Immediately up to speed with the table in this semi-final and looks like he could be set to put away this frame in the one hit. Relaxed among the balls and getting on with the business at hand.
SELBY 0-0 DING (14-4)
Lovely long red by Selby. That was majestic connection between white and object ball. Screws the white back up the table for the blue. Looking to make an early statement here. Selby chasing a 25th ranking title this week.
SELBY 0-0 DING (0-4)
Ding breaks off the first frame of eight to be played this afternoon in Manchester. Corking long red by Selby straight off the bat, but white ends up following the red down a top bag. Straight cueing is in good nick then.
SELBY V DING: A REMATCH OF THE 2016 WORLD FINAL
HIGGINS IN FRAME TO CREATE MORE CRUCIBLE HISTORY
Barry Hawins described John Higgins as an "all-time great" who was "almost unstoppable" during his 10-7 defeat to the four-time world champion in the semi-finals of the Tour Championship on Friday. Higgins will chase a second ranking title in successive months when he faces Mark Selby or Ding Junhui in Sunday's final, but will perhaps also have one eye on creating fresh history at the Crucible.
Read more here:
WELCOME BACK TO THE TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP
Hello and welcome to TNT Sports' live updates from the Tour Championship semi-final between Mark Selby and Ding Junhui as the chase for the £150,000 first prize gathers pace on a sell-out Saturday in Manchester.
Watch top snooker action live on TNT Sports and discovery+
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