2024 British Open Snooker Final Preview: John Higgins v Mark Selby

Both four-time world champions and two of the greatest players that snooker has ever had, Higgins and Selby are both also aiming to end lengthy ranking title waits.

Higgins is through to his 56th ranking event final, but his first in nearly two-and-a-half years. En route to the title match at the Centaur, 'The Wizard of Wishaw' has relinquished just six frames in six matches. Going into the final, he has won 17 of his last 18 frames.

The 49-year-old whitewashed maiden ranking event semi-finalist Oliver Lines, 6-0, in the last four, ending a run of five consecutive semi-final losses in a ranking event.

Earlier this week, Higgins dropped out of the world's top 16 rankings for the first time in over 29 years following the latest update after the English Open. However, the determined Scot has responded in style and class this week, and regardless of the outcome on Sunday, the £45,000 he is guaranteed to earn means he will be back in the sport's elite bracket after this event.

Success in the final for Higgins would mean a fifth British Open crown, making him the most decorated player in the competition's history. He is currently level with fellow countryman Stephen Hendry on four.

As well as qualification for the Champion of Champions, glory on Sunday would be Higgins' 32nd ranking event title, over three-and-a-half years from his most recent.

For the second consecutive year, Selby has reached the British Open showpiece. Last year, he was denied by Mark Williams, 10-7.

This week in Gloucestershire, Selby has exhibited so many of his supreme qualities which we have become accustomed to down the years.

Selby won his opening four matches (he received a walkover in round two) via deciding frames - his first two wins against Pang Junxu and Yuan Sijun came on the final black with clearances. In the semi-finals - despite a contest that had several clues pointing to another decider - Selby denied Mark Allen, 6-3, finishing in style with counter-attacking breaks in the final two frames.

The most recent of Selby's 22 ranking title trophies came in March 2023 at the WST Classic - over 18 months ago. Coming into this event, Selby was outside of the world's top 16 on the provisional end-of-season list, so the prize-money he has already amassed in Cheltenham will come very handy.

Victory over Higgins would represent a maiden title on the ITV network for Selby and come just months after he was considering retirement from the sport following a first round exit at the World Championship.

John Higgins v Mark Selby: Head-to-head record

Removing short-race Championship League matches, Selby leads their career head-to-head record by 14 to 8. He has also won their three most recent meetings, but the last of those came in April 2023 at the Crucible Theatre.

Higgins’ last victory over Selby was a very memorable one indeed. It came in the quarter-finals of the 2021 Players Championship when Higgins whitewashed Selby, 6-0, allowing his opponent a total of just seven points throughout the entire match. Higgins went on to famously win that event - his most recent ranking title accolade.

In terms of dates in finals, this will be their fourth on the professional circuit.

Two of these came in the sport's biggest fixture. Higgins won the 2007 World Championship final 18-13, but 10 years later, Selby turned the tables with an 18-15 win.

Their other title tie was at the 2018 China Championship; Selby edged that occasion, 10-9.

In all their multi-session match-ups, the score is 4-4.

Sunday’s 2024 British Open final will be played across two sessions starting at 13:00BST and 19:00BST, respectively.

For full details on the 2024 British Open including the draw, results, prize money, schedule and how to watch, please visit our tournament information centre here.