John Higgins leads charge for world snooker final glory by taking 10-7 lead over Mark Selby
Finalists throw away the script to produce thrilling exchanges in race for title and £375,000 first prize
WORLD snooker finalists John Higgins and Mark Selby threw away the script in their bid to win the sport's greatest prize.
Higgins leads 10-7 overnight as the Crucible holds its breath in readiness for today's deciding frames.
The best of 35 finals resumes at 2pm with Higgins, 41, who beat Selby in the 2007 final, aiming to become the oldest winner since 45-year-old Welshman Ray Reardon triumphed in 1978.
Two-time champion Selby, 33, meanwhile, is bidding to become only the fourth player - after Stephen Hendry, Steve Davis and Ronnie O'Sullivan - to win consecutive world titles in the modern era.
The theory was that their Sheffield showdown would be a tense, tenacious, matchplay type of game.
But so far it's turned out to be a free-flowing affair.
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Selby struggled at the off, obviously feeling the effects of his thrilling 17-15 semi-final triumph over Ding Junhui, while Higgins was beating Barry Hawkins 17-8.
He opened the final with breaks of 76 and 62, but looked weary in missing straightforward pots when presented with opportunities in the reds.
By contrast, Higgins claimed five frames in a row, knocking in contributions of 63, 95 and 58, as well as his superb 141, which equalled O'Sullivan's effort in 2012 as the best break recorded in a World Championship final.
As usual, Selby refused to buckle under the pressure and countered with breaks of 86 and 81 in the second session.
And even though Higgins re-established a five-frame lead, Selby produced a late revival to keep himself in the running.
Today Higgins celebrates his 116th consecutive week as world No1 and begins the final day of the championship as hot favourite to secure his third title in four years.
But who could confidently bet against never-say-die Selby landing the record £375,000 winner's cheque?