Crucible Classics #9

At number nine in my countdown is:

9. 2009 Quarter-final: John Higgins 13-12 Mark Selby
8-119(118); 0-129(124); 0-118(117); 60(57)-19; 69(65)-57(57); 64-0; 141(141)-0; 0-96(96); 96(84)-21; 95(52)-19; 83(83)-0; 5-77(77); 18-71; 0-114(114); 0-70(65); 77(60)-64(55); 1-69; 0-139(119); 86(52)-0; 75(51)-0; 30-52; 74(54)-18; 2-68; 113-4; 75(75)-0

Match progress: 0-1, 0-2, 0-3, 1-3, 2-3, 3-3, 4-3, 4-4, 5-4, 6-4, 7-4, 7-5, 7-6, 7-7, 7-8, 8-8, 8-9, 8-10, 9-10, 10-10, 10-11, 11-11, 11-12, 12-12, 13-12

What are your memories/observations of this Crucible Classic?

A great match between two master tacticians. Selby opened with three centuries but ended up not winning.

A few pinched frames i seem to remember told in the end.

Higgins was granite

Alex0paul wrote:Higgins was granite

It was like watching a good Italian football team.

Selby was at his very best and scored so heavy. How Higgins won that match I don't know but kinda knew the winner of that match will end up winning the World title.

TheRocket wrote:Selby was at his very best and scored so heavy. How Higgins won that match I don't know but kinda knew the winner of that match will end up winning the World title.

Don’t think Selby would have won it. He couldn’t sustain that intensity across a tournament back then.