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Mark Selby captured his fourth China Open title in Taiyuan, defeating Noppon Saengkham with a commanding 10-6 victory. The achievement marks a historic milestone for the English snooker player, who previously won the tournament in 2015, 2017, and 2018. At 43 years old, Selby has now accumulated 26 ranking event victories and climbed to fifth in the world rankings following this success.
The match saw Selby overcome an early deficit to dominate play. After trailing 4-2 in the opening session despite producing a spectacular 138 break, Selby rallied to level the match before the interval. Upon resumption, he controlled proceedings with a series of strong breaks, ultimately securing victory with a final half-century to claim the £250,000 prize money. This marked his first ranking final appearance in China in eight years.
Saengkham, competing in only his second ranking final, demonstrated impressive form throughout the tournament by eliminating several top competitors including Judd Trump, Ronnie O’Sullivan, and Shaun Murphy. Despite the loss, the Thai player’s performance was notable enough to propel him 18 places up the world rankings to 27th position. He collected £100,000 as runner-up prize money and acknowledged Selby’s superior control and tactical play, particularly his defensive capabilities.
Selby attributed his strong showing to improved form across the week and remains buoyed by his decision to adopt a new cue for the first time in two decades.
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Originally reported by Sports.yahoo →
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