With two titles already under his belt this season and two huge events coming up, Mark Selby hopes to capitalise on the rich vein of form he found at the WST Classic.
The Leicester cueman delighted his home fans on the final day on Wednesday, knocking out John Higgins and Ali Carter before making three centuries in the final to beat Pang Junxu 6-2.
The 39-year-old now heads to Hull for the Duelbits Tour Championship, where the best eight players of the season so far will compete for a top prize of £150,000. Selby also has the incentive of trying to regain the world number one ranking – he will overtake Ronnie O’Sullivan in that position if he reaches the final next week, unless Mark Allen wins the title.
“It is great to win another ranking title this season, and get a 22nd to be bit closer to Judd Trump, Neil Robertson and Mark Williams in the all-time list,” Selby told Hector Nunns in The Mirror. “I have been practising more and harder, and that work paid dividends. My game has just been feeling right, and things clicked in this event. It certainly isn’t a bad time to be coming into some form with the Tour Championship next week, and then the World Championship next month.
“I always want to play well in Leicester and put on a show at home. I haven’t always done that, so it was great to lift the trophy with a really good run. I knew I could seal my place at the Tour Championship by going deep, and my goal was to make sure I qualified for that. So to actually win the title is great.”
Looking ahead to the Crucible, where Selby ruled in 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2021, he added: “It is certainly not impossible that I could get to seven world titles. Of course it is incredibly tough and to have won four already is beyond my wildest dreams.
“But now I’m there it would be great to win at the Crucible again. And while I am still playing, I’ll give my all to do that. I obviously didn’t a great season last time, the way I was mentally meant I didn’t win so much money as usual and my ranking suffered.
“So I was a bit under pressure this season with money coming off, and I needed to shore up my place in the top 16. I still have goals. I’d like to win more world titles, more of the Triple Crowns and also get back to world number one – and I have a chance of doing that now.”
Selby meets Ryan Day in his opening match in Hull on Thursday. For the full draw and format click here, and to book tickets from just £22 click here.
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