World No.1 spot leaves Selby feeling champion
MARK SELBY insists that world title wins are special moments but being world No.1 is even more satisfying.
‘The Leicester Jester’ is well placed to make that judgment having won his fourth Betfred World Championship in May and regained his No.1 spot this month.
Selby, 38, has elevated himself in to the pantheon of snooker greats with his exploits that have brought him 20 ranking titles and three Masters crowns.
But he would love to lift the Champion of Champions trophy for the first time in Bolton this week – the event that brings together the winners of the past 12 months.
He said: “It feels great to be both world champion and world No.1 again.
“Winning the world championship for the first time back in 2014 just
made me more hungry to want to do that again.
“I have managed to do that over the last few years but also getting to No.1 is one of the best feelings you can have.
“To be world No.1 it had to be over a whole season in the past, two whole seasons now with the rolling list.
“Being a world champion is fantastic, it’s a great moment, but ultimately it says you were the best for two weeks in Sheffield.
“Being No.1 is the best or most consistent player
over 24 months. I feel mentally I am in an even better place than 2014.
“I used to think I was mentally pretty strong anyway but working with my coach Chris Henry over the past 18 months I realised there was work to do there.
“He has got me doing a few things differently, picking up my tempo when I am in. That is something I wasn’t used to, I was always a thinker.”
Selby opens his campaign this afternoon against Dave Gilbert.