Mark Selby secured a convincing 5-0 victory over Jack Lisowski in the quarter-finals of the British Open snooker tournament, ending the campaign of the Gloucestershire native to claim a place in the semi-finals. The competition, currently taking place in Cheltenham, saw Lisowski impress throughout the week to reach the last eight, thrilling local supporters. However, the four-time World Champion Selby proved to be a formidable opponent.
Selby asserted his dominance early with a commanding 82-point clearance in the opening frame. Despite a more tense second frame, he managed to extend his lead. Lisowski showed resilience in the third frame, mounting a strong response, but a pivotal snooker from Selby behind the yellow ball forced an error, swinging momentum firmly in Selby’s favour.
The 2024 champion maintained control through the mid-session interval and returned to secure a comprehensive victory, marking his fourth consecutive semi-final appearance in the British Open. Reflecting on his performance, Selby remarked, “I felt better today than I did in my previous matches. The third frame was a big moment because he would have been back in the match at 2-1. I know what a talent Jack is and I had to keep him at bay, so I tried not to take too many risks. If his shots are going in, he’s a world beater-that’s the way he plays and he’s great to watch.”