Selby has surpassed Higgins as ‘best all-rounder we’ve ever seen’
John Higgins’ status as snooker’s greatest ever all-rounder has been eclipsed by four-time world champion Mark Selby, reckons Crucible nemesis and World Championship runnerup Shaun Murphy.
Selby toppled Murphy in an 18-15 thriller on Monday night to become just the fifth man to lift the World Championship trophy in Sheffield on four occasions.
Only Stephen Hendry, Steve Davis, Ronnie O’sullivan and Higgins have achieved the historic feat but Selby, 37, catapulted himself further into the pantheon of greats with another fine display.
Selby, the world No 4, now sits level with the Wizard of Wishaw on four world crowns and Murphy, who won it as a 22-year-old qualifier back in 2005, reckons he’s now done enough to be considered the sport’s finest all-round player ever.
The 38-year-old said: “In my opinion, having just gone toeto-toe with him for two days, I’ve got him down as the best all-rounder we’ve ever seen.
“He’s just granite in all areas – he’s a scorer, a potter, and his long potting was sensational yesterday.
“It’s phenomenal. I’m coming here chasing a second title and he’s now won four. He scores very highly and has all the attributes you need to be successful whether it’s in sport, life, business or whatever.
“For me, he’s the best allrounder we’ve ever seen. John
Higgins was classed as the best all-rounder but for me, Mark Selby is better.
“He’s got more patience, he’s willing to wait longer, he plays cleverer shots and is just granite.
“It’s been a massive thrill to come here on no form at all. I’ve shown no signs of a run coming and it’s great to be back at the business end of a tournament.
“I’m obviously disappointed to have come second, but it is
a big turning point for me in terms of my career, outlook and life in general.”
Selby admits four World Championship titles surpasses even his wildest dreams and believes his first Triple Crown trophy since 2017 is a triumph of battling personal adversity.
Selby, crowned king of the Crucible in 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2021, said: “It’s unbelievable.
“It’s absolutely incredible – when I won it the first time it
was a dream come true, but to win it four times is only something I can dream of.
“To win three was unbelievable and be on a par with people like Mark Williams, so to now equal somebody like John Higgins, who is one of the alltime greats, and be on four is beyond my wildest dreams.
“I’m not the most naturally gifted player – you look at Ronnie and Judd [Trump] and they’re very, very talented and are basically born with a cue in
hand. Whereas me, I’ve had to work hard all the way through my career.
"I’ve been brought up on a council estate, my father had no money at all, he passed away when I was 15 or 16, and my mum left me when I was eight years old. It’s been tough.
“I respect the good things in life and try and keep my feet on the ground.”