Summary

  • Result: Mark Selby 18-15 John Higgins

  • Selby defends his title and wins his third World Championship in four years

  • Selby trailed 10-4 before fighting back

  • Controversy in frame 31 after referee says Selby did not hit the black and Higgins went on to win the frame

  • Selby made 131 break in 32nd frame and 78 in final frame

  1. Postpublished at 17:18 British Summer Time 1 May 2017

    Frame 24: Selby 12-11 Higgins

    Willie Thorne
    BBC snooker commentator at The Crucible

    Mark Selby will be more confident now than any other part of this match. 

  2. Postpublished at 17:16 British Summer Time 1 May 2017

    Frame 24: Selby 12-11 Higgins

    Winning six out of seven frames today is something Selby may not have even been able to dream of, from being the outsider to the clear favourite with a two-frame advantage.

    It could well happen soon. The break is up to 30. Higgins sits, waits, ponders and hopes.

    Mark Selby
  3. Postpublished at 17:14 British Summer Time 1 May 2017

    Frame 24: Selby 12-11 Higgins

    This is the last frame of the day. Selby is again at the table, 11-0 up. Looking strong.

  4. 'He threw his keys out of the window'published at 17:13 British Summer Time 1 May 2017

    Frame 24: Selby 12-11 Higgins

    The celebrity game is strong at the Crucible today. So far we've seen Iron Maiden drummer Nicko McBrain, Peanut from the Kaiser Chiefs, Masters champion Danny Willett, now we can add former England international Kevin Davies to the list.

    Watch his interview with BBC Sport's Seema Jaswal below.

    BBC Sport app users may need to click on the below link.

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post
  5. get involved

    Get Involved #bbcsnookerpublished at 17:09 British Summer Time 1 May 2017

    Frame 23: Selby 12-11 Higgins

    Tony Burden: Wow. I've just turned the snooker on. Crikey. That scoreline is a complete surprise.

    Callum Churchill: What character from Selby, that's what sets him aside as world No1. He grinds through each frame one frame at a time.

    Mark SelbyImage source, PA
  6. 'Mark has bit between his teeth'published at 17:07 British Summer Time 1 May 2017

    Frame 23: Selby 12-11 Higgins

    John Parrott
    1991 world champion at The Crucible

    Mark has really got the bit between his teeth now. 

  7. 10-4 down, to 12-11 uppublished at 17:07 British Summer Time 1 May 2017

    Frame 23: Selby 12-11 Higgins 82-0 (Selby 58)

    What a turnaround. From 10-4 down to 12-11 up. He's the world number one for a reason.

    Mark Selby's fightback is over, now he is the leader. John Higgins looks powerless to stop Selby, who has now won eight of nine frames.

    Good news for us, good news for Selby, bad news for Higgins, we have one more frame this session.

    John HigginsImage source, PA
  8. Postpublished at 17:03 British Summer Time 1 May 2017

    Frame 23: Selby 11-11 Higgins

    Selby dominating this frame, he could well have an outright lead again soon. (61-0).

  9. 2016 Masters Champion Willett is at the Cruciblepublished at 17:02 British Summer Time 1 May 2017

    Frame 23: Selby 11-11 Higgins

    Sheffield lad Danny Willett, the winner of the 2016 Masters (golf, not snooker), has just been speaking to BBC Sport's Seema Jaswal about his Crucible visit.

    BBC Sport app users may need to click on the below link to watch.

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post
  10. 'Kick-starts the game into life again'published at 16:59 British Summer Time 1 May 2017

    Frame 23: Selby 11-11 Higgins

    Steve Davis
    Six-time world champion at The Crucible

    Halfway through that 22nd frame it really did look like the game had been bogged down but that break (of 67) could be the thing which kick-starts the game into life again. 

    Perhaps Mark Selby has got his arm going now and perhaps John Higgins will have to respond.

  11. Postpublished at 16:56 British Summer Time 1 May 2017

    Frame 23: Selby 11-11 Higgins

    Remember, we have a cut-off point of 17:15 BST for a frame to start, so this could be the last one of the session.

    Selby starts off with three reds, three blacks but a loud groan from the Crucible follows as he gets no luck when he goes into the pack of reds. 24-0 to Selby. So, you could well say he is back in front again.

    For the first time since about 4pm yesterday.

  12. 1985 final voted most memorable Crucible momentpublished at 16:55 British Summer Time 1 May 2017

    As chosen by you, the number one moment from the last 40 years of snooker at the Crucible is... the 1985 black-ball final between Dennis Taylor and Steve Davis.

    It was the number one pick of 55% of respondents and in the top three of 85%.

    Ronnie O'Sullivan's fastest ever 147 break was second with 22.25%, and Alex Higgins' emotional triumph in 1982 was third with 7.64%.

    Here is the list in full:

    1. The black-ball final (1985)
    2. Rocket Ronnie's rapid 147 (1997)
    3. Higgins' daughter steals the show (1982)
    4. Ronnie's remarkable return (2013)
    5. King Hendry the seventh (1990)
    6. Thorburn makes the first maximum (1983)
    7. Hendry beats White... again (1994)
    8. 150-1 outsider Johnson shocks snooker (1986)
    9. Bingham hits the jackpot (2015)
    10. Thorburn wins final during political drama (1980)
    MomentsImage source, BBC Sport
  13. And we're levelpublished at 16:54 British Summer Time 1 May 2017

    Frame 22: Selby 11-11 Higgins (68-19, Selby 67)

    OK, who thought it was all over when Higgins was 10-4 up? Wrong.

    Selby has won seven of the last eight frames, including a break of 67 in the 22nd, and it is 11-11.

  14. Postpublished at 16:51 British Summer Time 1 May 2017

    Frame 22: Selby 10-11 Higgins

    Selby's break is up to 66, the three reds are on the side cushion, but he pots one of them and then misses the black. 67-19, Higgins comes to the table needing two snookers. We continue.

    Mark Selby
  15. Postpublished at 16:48 British Summer Time 1 May 2017

    Frame 22: Selby 10-11 Higgins

    Mark Selby is doing what he can to make sure we can get in another frame in this session. His break is up to 42. 42-19 in the 22nd.

  16. Postpublished at 16:46 British Summer Time 1 May 2017

    Frame 22: Selby 10-11 Higgins

    So, this could be the last frame of the session. Maybe.

    Cancel your plans for tomorrow, we could be in for the long-haul here. We're hardcore though here, we're here no matter what, so stay with us. Even at two in the morning.

  17. Slow play means a long nightpublished at 16:44 British Summer Time 1 May 2017

    Shamoon Hafez
    BBC Sport at The Crucible

    We have been told that because of the slow play from the two players this afternoon, there will be a cut-off point of 17:15 BST for another frame to start.

    That will allow the players a good rest going into the final session at 19:00 BST, but we could be in for a long night.

    As it stands, we could have an extra three frames carried over.

  18. Postpublished at 16:44 British Summer Time 1 May 2017

    Frame 22: Selby 10-11 Higgins

    Some breaking news from the Crucible...

  19. Postpublished at 16:43 British Summer Time 1 May 2017

    Frame 22: Selby 10-11 Higgins

    Selby has an attempt at a red to the middle, but it stays out, the black is on the left cushion, the blue is in the D, the pink is hidden by a couple of reds. Not many points available at the moment. Higgins is 19-0 up as I write.

  20. get involved

    Get Involved #bbcsnookerpublished at 16:40 British Summer Time 1 May 2017

    Frame 22: Selby 10-11 Higgins

    Yep, he loves his snooker. He was here in the final in 2014 - Selby's first win, and ended up playing drums as Selby sung some karaoke classics in the post-final party.