Selby became world champion for the second time by beating China’s Ding Junhui 18-14 at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre on Monday evening.
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The Chinese number one, biddng to become the first Asian player to win the world title and only the third qualifier to take the title since the tournament moved to Sheffield in 1977, shed a tear at the emotion of winning his first frame in a world final.
“It is fantastic”, said Selby, a Leicester City fan who won his title a mere five minutes after the Foxes won a fairytale Premier League crown.
“Hopefully in two years time they can win the Premier League again and I can come here and win this again”.
Ding is one of China’s biggest sports stars and said before the final that he predicted about 100 million people back home would be watching him against Selby. “Then I just had to go for it, but Mark played too well”. I just wanted to enjoy the day.
Yet, like all true champions, the world No.1 – who ends the season top of the rankings for an incredible fifth year in a row – came up with the goods when it mattered most, making two centuries and eight further half-centuries during the course of the final. “Luckily my “B” game is pretty good”.
He added: “I never dreamed of winning it twice – the first time is always special, especially the World Championships, and it will always have a special place in your heart”.
Asked whether it was the best day of his life, Selby commented: “I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t”.
By becoming the sixth player to win the world title a few times at the Crucible, Selby had due cause to celebrate long into the evening, at the tournament’s official champion’s reception. “The deal is with the Crucible Theatre as well as Sheffield City Council”.
“But overall I didn’t take my chances and Ding did and that’s the reason he won”.
But Johnson is a great admirer of Selby, who had stifled Ding’s Sunday night comeback by holding up the 15th frame with a demonstration of high-intensity safety play, laying a string of snookers that crushed the momentum his opponent was building. He stalled on a 52 break, a lead of 27, with 27 points remaining on the table.
Selby then took the first two frames of the evening session to go 16-11 in front thanks to contributions of 55 and 46. Griffiths has worked on fortifying the 29-year-old’s mental approach and it showed. “Not many players can get in the final”. I missed a blue to go 7-0 up and if I had done that I might have won more easily.
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Now Ding was just two frames behind at 14-16.
