Selby: Crucible glory is fleeting
WORLD NO.1 RANK IS THE TRUE TITLE
MARK SELBY knows better than most that world-title wins are very special moments – but he believes being the world No.1 is even more satisfying.
The Leicester Jester is uniquely well placed to make that judgment call.
He won his fourth Betfred World Championship in May – and regained his No.1 ranking this month.
And with his coach Chris Henry having speeded up his game, Selby’s in a hurry for more glory.
The 38-year-old has already joined the pantheon of snooker greats with that quartet of World triumphs and two UK Championships, among 20 ranking titles, plus 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.
Selby said: “It feels great to be both the world champion and the world No.1 player again.
“Winning the world championship for the first time back in 2014, beating Ronnie O’Sullivan in the final at the Crucible, only made me more hungry to do it again.
“I have managed to do that over the last few years – but getting to No.1 in the rankings is one of the best feelings you can have.
“To be No.1 in the past it had to be over a whole season, and now it’s two whole seasons, with the rolling list.
“Being world champion is fantastic, it’s a great moment, but ultimately what it says is you were the best for those two weeks in Sheffield. Being No.1 is being the best, or the most consistent, player over 24 months.
“I feel mentally I am in an even better place than in 2014.
“I used to think I was mentally pretty strong. But working with Chris 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’ – something I wasn’t used to. I was always a thinker at the table.”