SELBY JOINS THE LEGENDS OF GAME
Mark wins a fourth title with triumph over Murphy
MARK SELBY brought the Crucible full house down last night as he claimed a fourth world title to join snooker’s legends.
The 37-year-old from Leicester beat Shaun Murphy 18-15 in the Betfred World Championship final in Sheffield to pocket the £500,000 first prize.
The match was greeted from the first frame to when Selby lifted the trophy by a raucous capacity crowd roaring their approval at every chance.
It was a huge personal triumph for Selby, even booed by a few fans as he entered the arena last night after a slowplay ‘gamesmanship’ row in his semi-final win over Stuart Bingham.
He silenced those critics as he moved up to No.2 in the world rankings – but in the bigger picture this also felt like a key moment for sport and society.
Not since the controversially staged Cheltenham Gold Cup in March 2020 had there been a full crowd at a UK sporting event. But snooker’s blue-riband tournament was selected as one of the Government’s more wide-ranging test pilot events.
The scientific data gathered will be used to help try to ease audiences safely back to indoor sport and entertainment. Selby, the Leicester Jester, becomes only the fifth player to win four world crowns at the Crucible. He moves level with John Higgins, and now behind only Ronnie O’Sullivan, Ray Reardon and Steve Davis on six, and record-holder Stephen Hendry on seven.
In a clash of playing styles and approach, it was defence that prevailed over attack, with counter-puncher and tactical master Selby keeping the aggressive Murphy, left, at bay.
It was clearly a disappointing night for Murphy, who also lost his last Crucible final six years ago to Bingham.
The long format of the world final allows for ebb and flow – and it got that in this contest.
Selby resumed yesterday with a 10-7 lead and though Murphy launched an attack in the afternoon session his opponent just about held him at bay.
Armed with a 14-11 advantage going into the evening finale, Selby had just too much in hand for Murphy to get close.
A magnificent break of 120 left a seemingly nerveless Selby on the brink at 17-13, and though Murphy battled back with two centuries of his own it was all too late.