Selby – I Can Handle Masters Pressure 08 Jan 09
Mark Selby believes that he can deal with the pressure of being defending champion as he goes into the Masters, which starts on Sunday.
Selby won his first major title by beating Stephen Lee 10-3 in the final of snooker’s most important invitation tournament last year. He starts the defence of the title against Mark King or Ricky Walden at Wembley Arena on Monday evening.
In the 33-year history of the tournament, only Cliff Thorburn (1985-86), Stephen Hendry (1989-93) and Paul Hunter (2001-02) have won it in consecutive years. Now Selby is aiming to join that list.
“It will be a slightly different experience for me as I’ve never been to a tournament as defending champion before,” said the 25-year-old from Leicester, who became the first player to win the Masters on his debut since Hendry in 1989. “Last year I won three of my matches 6-5, and two of those I should have lost. There were times when I needed to dig in and just stay in the game, so I proved to myself that under the utmost pressure I can hold up. I’m looking forward to it and who knows, maybe I’ll go on and win it again.”
Success has come at a rapid rate for Selby over the past two years. He has leapt from 28th to fourth in the world rankings, having reached the World final and won the Welsh Open as well as landing the Masters crown.
“I look at the trophy every now and then to remind myself that I’m the Masters Champion. It’s still not really sunk in,” he added. “When I go back to Wembley and see my picture in the posters all over the place around the venue, holding the trophy up, I’m sure it will sink in then.”
Ronnie O’Sullivan, Hendry, John Higgins and Maplin UK Champion Shaun Murphy will be among those trying to take the title away from Selby.
Tickets for all rounds are still available, for details call 0844 815 0815 or visit www.wembleyarena.co.uk
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