Sport

Mark Selby completes comeback to claim World title

Dramatic turnaround sees defending champion Ronnie O’Sullivan lose final

Mark Selby celebrates winning the final frame of the afternoon session of the World Snooker Championships at The Crucible in Sheffield. Photograph: Anna Gowthorpe/PA Wire
Mark Selby celebrates winning the final frame of the afternoon session of the World Snooker Championships at The Crucible in Sheffield. Photograph: Anna Gowthorpe/PA Wire
Mon May 05 2014 - 22:35

Mark Selby rocked Ronnie O'Sullivan with one of the great Crucible comebacks as his tenacity and sheer appetite for the task was rewarded with a first World Championship title.

The great ‘Grinder’ of the sport, Canada’s Cliff Thorburn, was on hand to witness Selby gnaw at O’Sullivan’s supreme confidence, wearing down the man who was chasing a third successive world title, and sixth of his career.

Selby ran out an 18-14 winner of snooker’s ultimate prize, having been 8-3 and 10-5 behind and looking primed to become another in a long line of O’Sullivan’s victim in Sheffield.

He clinched it with an exceptional clearance of the colours, holding his nerve as though it was he who had won this title five times in the past. Selby punched the air in delight, the new world number one feeling the emotion before laying his hands on the trophy for the first time.

“It’s amazing really. It couldn’t be better. You want to win it with Ronnie in the tournament and there’s no better way than playing him in the final,"said Selby.
“I want to thank all my supporters, my wife Vikki and the family and everyone who’s stuck by me.”
Reflecting on his comeback, he added: “I was just my usual self, dug in and never gave in. I didn’t play pretty snooker early in the match but towards the end I played well."