Selby Sails Into British Open Final After Five-Hour Marathon

Mark Selby once again showed why he has earned the nickname “The Jester from Leicester” as he battled through a gruelling five-hour encounter with Liam Highfield to reach the 2026 British Open final.

In a contest dominated by tactical exchanges, safety battles and relentless pressure, Selby eventually prevailed 6–3, but the scoreline hardly tells the full story of a match that demanded enormous patience and concentration from both players.

Highfield made an impressive start and refused to allow the four-time World Champion to dictate the contest. The match remained finely balanced at 3–3, with neither player willing to surrender the tactical battle. Every frame became a test of nerve, precision and endurance, as long safety exchanges repeatedly stretched the duration of the contest.

But when the pressure reached its peak, Selby found another gear.

The Englishman produced the greater composure in the closing stages, winning the next three frames in succession to turn a tense 3–3 battle into a 6–3 victory. His trademark tactical discipline and ability to thrive in difficult, attritional encounters ultimately proved decisive.

For Highfield, defeat will be painful, but his run deserves enormous credit. He produced the finest performance of his career at the tournament, overcoming expectations and reaching the latter stages before running into one of snooker’s greatest match players.

For Selby, however, the job is not finished.

The victory sends him into the 2026 British Open final on Sunday, where he will face either Judd Trump or Jak Jones. After surviving one of the tournament’s toughest tests, Selby will now have his sights firmly set on lifting the trophy.

Five hours of battle. Nine frames. One survivor.

Mark Selby sails into the final — but the ultimate prize is still within reach.