Mark Selby secured a commanding 5-0 victory over Jack Lisowski to progress into the semi-finals of the British Open snooker tournament, ending the hopes of the Gloucestershire native to claim a home title.
Lisowski, hailing from Churchdown in Gloucestershire, had impressed throughout the week to reach the last eight of the competition hosted in Cheltenham. Nevertheless, Selby’s experience and skill proved decisive.
Selby showcased his intent early with an 82-point clearance in the opening frame, setting the tone for the match. The second frame was more closely contested, yet Selby edged ahead. Although Lisowski put up a resilient challenge, a pivotal moment came in the third frame when Selby expertly placed a snooker behind the yellow ball, prompting an error from Lisowski that swung momentum firmly in Selby’s favour.
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The reigning 2024 champion maintained his composure until the mid-session interval and returned to close out the match without dropping another frame, marking his fourth consecutive appearance in the British Open semi-finals.
Reflecting on his performance, Selby said, “I felt better today than in my earlier matches. The third frame was crucial because if he had won that, the match might have turned around. I know what a talent Jack is, so I had to keep him at bay and avoid taking unnecessary risks. When his shots are going in, he is a world-class player and fantastic to watch.”