Championship League: Mark Selby downs Joe O’Connor in final to claim maiden title in native Leicester

Mark Selby claimed the Championship League title in his hometown of Leicester on Wednesday with a 3-1 victory over Joe O’Connor in the final.

O’Connor stunned four-time champion and form player John Higgins in the semi-finals, but couldn’t continue his run as the Jester claimed the title for the first time.

Victory earned the world No. 5 a £10,000 prize and a spot in the Champion of Champions later this year worth another £12,500 for qualification.

There was all to play for going into the final day of action at the Morningside Arena, with the final winners’ group placements yet to be decided.

Higgins came in as the hot favourite after winning all three of his winners’ group matches on day one.

The Wizard of Wishaw continued his fine form by taking down Kyren Wilson 3-1 and Neil Robertson 3-0 to claim top spot, despite suffering his first defeat against Chris Wakelin, going down 3-2.

But former world champion subsequently suffered a shock 3-0 collapse against O’Connor, who snuck into the last four in fourth place with a 3-0 group win over Bingham.

O’Connor produced a superb performance, with breaks of 52, 139 and 92 ending the Scot’s hopes of a title.

Second place in the group went to Selby, who beat Robertson and Wakelin 3-1 to earn a semi-final against Bingham, who qualified with three wins from six.

The Jester made short work of his opponent in a 3-0 semi-final win that he topped off with a break of 70.

In the final, O’Connor started the stronger, a break of 67 continuing his good form from the semis to edge him in front.

But Selby soon seized back control as breaks of 74 and 137 completed a comeback before he took the final frame 71-35 to claim the crown.

Selby will now turn his attention to the World Open in Yushan, China, where he is slated to face Adam Duffy in the second round of the ranking event on Monday, March 18.