They Called Mark Selby “Finished”… Now He’s Making Snooker Look Nervous Again!
For the past four years, Mark Selby has repeatedly been written off. Some have claimed he is finished, past his best and no longer suited to the modern game. But the results tell a very different story.
At 43, Selby is still ranked fifth in the world and has just reminded everyone exactly why he remains one of snooker’s greats. His 10-6 victory over Noppon Saengkham in the China Open final secured his fourth title at the event, making him its most successful champion ever. It also took his tally of ranking titles to 26, drawing him level with Neil Robertson and placing him joint-seventh on the all-time list.
And this is hardly a one-week revival. Selby is the defending UK Champion, having beaten Judd Trump 10-8, and he is also the defending Champion of Champions after defeating Trump 10-5. The idea that he disappeared from the game is simply wrong. Perhaps he merely stopped being the story.
The criticism of Selby’s style has always been strange. He may not produce the same flamboyant brilliance as Ronnie O’Sullivan, but snooker is not only about spectacular pots. Selby’s game is built on precision, patience and an extraordinary command of the cue ball. His safety play can be ruthless, suffocating opponents until even the simplest frame becomes a mental battle.
That clinical, cold and surgical approach is precisely what makes him fascinating to watch. He does not necessarily beat you with one spectacular shot; sometimes, he beats you with an hour of relentless pressure.
Perhaps snooker does have a flair bias. Perhaps Selby is simply less entertaining to some viewers. Both can be true. But boring? For many fans, that misses the point entirely.
Selby is a four-time world champion, a record-breaking China Open winner and one of the finest tactical players the sport has produced.
And he is clearly not finished yet.
