Mark Selby beats Ding Junhui to win World Snooker Championship - BBC Sport BBC Sport Mark Selby beats Ding Junhui to win World Snooker Championship By Shamoon Hafez BBC Sport at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield 2 May Media playback is not supported on this device Highlights: Selby wins second world title England's world number one Mark Selby beat China's Ding Junhui 18-14 to win his second World Championship title. Selby, the 2014 winner from Leicester, led throughout Sunday and went into Monday's final session leading 14-11. Ding, who was bidding to become the first Asian player to win the world title, claimed three frames in a row. But Selby dug deep to seal a brilliant double for the city of Leicester, whose football team became Premier League champions 13 minutes earlier. Media playback is not supported on this device Selby 'over the moon' with world title "It is fantastic," Selby told BBC TV. "It was very special to win it two years ago, but I felt under a lot more pressure now than I did two years ago.

"In the first to 18, a 6-0 lead is not a huge one, especially against someone like Ding. He played fantastically earlier today and I had to just hang on to him. "I'm just over the moon. I saved my best performance for the final and I only had two good sessions in the tournament. Luckily my 'B' game is pretty good.

And on Leicester City's incredible Premier League title success, he added: "To be Premier League champions is a fantastic achievement and I want to say well done to Claudio Ranieri and the boys." Selby's ranking titles 2008: Beats Ronnie O'Sullivan 9-8 to win Welsh Open 2011: Beats Mark Williams 10-9 in Shanghai Masters final 2012: Wins UK Championship with 10-6 win over Shaun Murphy 2014: Wins World Championship 18-14 against Ronnie O'Sullivan 2015: Wins German Masters and China Open 2016: Clinches second World Championship Also won the Masters, an invitation event, in 2008, 2010 and 2013 Selby among the greats Media playback is not supported on this device Best shots of the World Championship Selby joined snooker's greats by becoming only the sixth multiple world champion in the Crucible era.

The 32-year-old, who pulled out of the previous two ranking events in preparation for the season-ending showpiece, had not played his best snooker in the tournament and came in for criticism over his often slow and meticulous style of play. But breaks of 120, 91 and 76 put him 6-0 ahead on Sunday, a lead which he never relinquished. Having played the longest frame ever at the Crucible against Marco Fu in the semi-finals, Selby was involved in further drawn-out tactical battles with play ending at 00:24 BST on the first day. However, Selby - who has remarkable mental toughness and never-say-die attitude - showed his experience to close out the match and the seventh ranking title victory of his career keeps him top of the world rankings for a fifth straight year. Six multiple world champions in Crucible era Stephen Hendry (7), Steve Davis (6), Ronnie O'Sullivan (5), John Higgins (4) and Mark Williams (2) John Spencer, Alex Higgins and Ray Reardon won the title in both the modern and pre-1977 era.

Crowning of king Ding must wait Media playback is not supported on this device Selby creates huge cue to play pot China's Ding fell short in his bid to become only the fourth player from outside Britain to win the title and only the third qualifier to lift the trophy. The 29-year-old previously failed to deliver his best at the tournament as two semi-finals were his best showing, but with less pressure of not being one of the favourites this time, he managed to showcase his talent with his renowned heavy scoring. His 15 tournament centuries was only one short of Stephen Hendry's all-time record. They included seven tons in the semi-final win over Alan McManus, a record for a single Crucible match, but he was then overcome by nerves during the opening exchanges against Selby. Although Ding, who moves up to ninth in the world, got to within one frame at stages in the final, Selby displayed his trademark grit and resolve to pull away again, leaving Ding frustrated. Selby a true champion - analysis 1991 world champion John Parrott: "Mark Selby is made of granite. He is a tremendous competitor, his B game gives headaches to others, and he doesn't waste a shot.

When he gets his scoring boots on he becomes very difficult to play against, and when he's not scoring every shot has a purpose. "The way he went over the winning line is the sign of a true champion, that final break was one of pure class." Six-time world champion Steve Davis: "Ding Junhui has inspired another generation of players in China. When they have seen the character he has shown, it is not a failure. There will be a Chinese champion somewhere down the line. It's been a fascinating tournament. It's great to see there is strength in depth within the players." Statistics Tournament top break: Kyren Wilson 143 in the quarter-finals Most centuries in tournament: Ding Junhui 15 Top break in final: Mark Selby 126 Total match time of final: 13 hours, two minutes and 28 seconds Longest frame in final: 15th frame on day one - 66 minutes Sign up to My Sport to follow snooker news and reports on the BBC app.

Share this page Home - World Snooker 19 Jan 2017 Masters 2018 Tickets On Sale Monday Tickets for the 2018 Dafabet Masters at Alexandra Palace will be on sale from Monday January 23. Snooker’s biggest invitation tournament will return to the North London venue for the seventh consecutive year from January 14 to 21 in 2018. This week’s tournament has produced some sensational snooker from the likes of Ronnie O’Sullivan, Neil... Read More Welcome to fcsnooker - Snooker Coaching with Frank Callan - 'Snooker World Champions - The Embassy Years' fcsnooker - Top Quality Snooker Coaching and Instruction in association with Mr Frank Callan - General Interest - "Snooker World Champions - The Embassy Years" The 'Embassy' World Championships - Year by Year 1976 - Winner Ray Reardon In 1976 the final of the first embassy world championships was played in Manchester at the Wythenshaw arena. Ray Reardon was up against self-professed, "peoples champion" Alex "Hurricane" Higgins.

Reardon won easily after Higgins conceded the match in the penultimate session after missing an easy pink. With Higgins conceding the frame and match early, the last session was not played. 1977 - Winner John Spencer In this year the tournament moved to Sheffield and was to be played at the Crucible Theatre for the very first time. The final was contested between John Spencer and Canadian Cliff Thorburn, with Spencer winning 25 -21. 1978 - Winner Ray Reardon After dominating the game of snooker in the 1970's Ray Reardon won his sixth and last world title against left handed Perry Manns in 1978. This followed earlier wins in 1970, 73, 74, 75 and 1976. 1979 - Winner Terry Griffiths After a hard fought victory over Eddie Charlton in the semi-finals, Griffith's made the now famous quote "I'm in the final now". Facing him was Irishman Dennis Taylor, but after another close game Griffith's emerged triumphant to collect the ï¿½10,000 first prize.

1980 - Winner Cliff Thorburn Fondly remembered as the year of the grinder, this final was a classic mix of styles. Featuring Cliff Thorburn against Alex Higgins, the match combined Thorburn's tactical ability and safety play, with Higgin's natural potting and bravado. An excellent final, saw Thorburn keep his nerve to win 18 - 16. Many wondered if Higgins would ever be world champion again. 1981 - Winner Steve Davis The 1980's began an era of domination by Steve Davis. Over the course of the next 9 years, Davis would feature in eight finals, winning six. The Davis era began here, when Davis convincingly beat Doug Mountjoy, 18 -12. 1982 - Winner Alex Higgins In 1982 the final was contested between two of the most famous names in snooker history, and also two men playing in their last Embassy final, Ray Reardon and Alex Higgins. Higgins proved too strong for Reardon and a 135 clearance in the final frame meant he was champion again, a full ten years after his first win.

This prompted the memorable scenes of Higgins calling for his wife and daughter in an emotional aftermath to victory. 1983 - Winner Steve Davis After his shock exit in 1982 to Tony Knowles, Steve Davis was determined to regain his place at the forefront of the game. In the final however, he was up against 1980 champion Cliff Thorburn still celebrating a 147 total clearance in an earlier round against Terry Griffiths. The first televised 147 in Crucible history. The final was somewhat of an anti-climax with Davis winning comfortably against a strangely subdued Thorburn. 1984 - Winner Steve Davis In 1984, Steve Davis went on to win his third title in four years against the magic of Jimmy "Whirlwind" White. Davis totally dominated the first session and the match looked as good as over. Jimmy, with a combination of skill and courage managed to bring himself back into the game, enjoying an excellent second day of the final. The lead proved too great, the match finished 18 - 16 and Steve Davis was again a worthy Champion. 1985 - Winner Dennis Taylor Perhaps the most famous match in snooker history.

Played between reigning World Champion Steve Davis and 1979 loser Dennis Taylor the match had everything. As in the previous year Steve raced into a commanding lead in the first session, only for Dennis to counter attack brilliantly to close the gap. The race continued with both players neck and neck at 17 frames each. The last frame was a little scrappy, which was hardly surprising with all the tension and pressure. After a compelling battle on the final black in the final frame, 18.5 million viewers, a record for a televised sporting event, saw Dennis Taylor triumph 62 -66, after Davis missed a thin cut back, on the black. Taylor was a very popular winner, breaking Davis's stranglehold on the World Crown. 1986 - Winner Joe Johnson Joe's Year. Playing with the freedom of a man with nothing to lose, 150 - 1 shot Joe Johnson stunned the snooker world when he defeated Steve Davis18 - 12 in 1986. Ever the sportsman, Davis conceded that Johnson had played the best snooker and thoroughly deserved his win.

1987 - Winner Steve Davis This final was a repeat of the previous year when Davis met Johnson. There was to be no repeat result however, with Davis playing excellently to win his fourth world crown 18 - 14. 1988 - Winner Steve Davis The 1988 final had Davis playing 1979 champion Griffiths. Davis was seeking his fifth world title and never looked in danger during this match. A full nine years after winning the world title against Dennis Taylor, this would be Terry Griffith's last appearance in a crucible final. Although only victorious once at the Crucible, Griffith's overall record stands comparison with most others in the world championships. 1989 - Winner Steve Davis This final saw Steve Davis run out an easy 18 - 3 victor against John Parrot. Parrot struggled to find his best form and seemed to be completely in awe of both Davis and the occasion. Davis meanwhile was at his imperious best, equalling Ray Reardon's record of six world titles.

1990 - Winner Stephen Hendry The start of an era of dominance by the brilliant Stephen Hendry and the beginning of years of despair for Jimmy White, now known as the best player never to win the world title. After predicting in season 86/87 that he would win the title within five years, Hendry defeated White 18 - 12 to become the youngest ever player to win the world championship title. This was the first of five consecutive appearances in the final for Jimmy White 1991 - Winner John Parrot This final was contested between 1989 runner-up John Parrot and 1990 runner-up Jimmy White. After dominating the the first session 7 - 0, Parrot never looked back winning the match and World Championship title, 18 - 11. 1992 - Winner Stephen Hendry A repeat of the 1990 final saw Stephen Hendry again playing Jimmy White. The match appeared to be going White's way as he progressed into a 14 - 9 lead. At this stage however, Hendry demonstrated all the attributes that have made him arguably the greatest player ever.

A ten frame winning run saw him take the title 18 - 14. 1993 - Winner Stephen Hendry Capturing his third title in four years Stephen Hendry completely dominated this final against Jimmy White. An opening frame break of 136 by Hendry set the tone for the rest of the match, with the final score finishing 18 - 5 1994 - Winner Stephen Hendry Perhaps Jimmy's best chance of winning the title came and went in the final frame of this tremendous match. With the match and title staring him in the face, Jimmy missed a relatively easy black off the spot, allowing Hendry the opportunity to get back to the table. Displaying his customary nerve Hendry completed a 58 clearance to win the title 18 - 17. For Jimmy's legion of fans this was perhaps the most upsetting of his defeats in the Embassy World Championship final. 1995 - Winner Stephen Hendry After three consecutive White v Hendry finals, this championship witnessed a White - Hendry semi-final. The outcome remained the same however, with Stephen Hendry victorious, a maximum clearance to go 8 - 4 up adding to his enjoyment during the match.

This resulted in the 1995 title being fought out between Nigel Bond and a Stephen Hendry seeking his fourth consecutive victory and his fifth title in six seasons. With a century to finish the match in the final frame, Hendry waltzed home a convincing 18 - 9 victor. This was no disgrace to Bond who had enjoyed an excellent tournament. 1996 - Winner Stephen Hendry "C'mon. C'mon". This phrase had reverberated around the Crucible as Peter Ebdon fought his way into the final stages of the tournament and ultimately the final against, who else, but Stephen Hendry. For all his passion however, Ebdon was no match for ice cool Hendry. A wonderful display of consistent snooker would see Hendry comfortably see off the dogged Ebdon 18 - 12, equalling the record of both Ray Reardon and Steve Davis as six times World Champion. 1997 - Winner Ken Doherty Trying to win his sixth consecutive world title Stephen Hendry was this time drawn to play the brilliant Irishman, Ken Doherty, in the final of the world championship.

Alas for Hendry it was not to be, with Doherty winning the match 18 - 12 1998 - Winner John Higgins 1998 saw a newcomer to the world final with John Higgins fighting his way through. Higgins had been earmarked for world title glory many years before as an outstanding junior and was now really beginning to make his talent show on the world stage. Facing him was Ken Doherty playing in his second consecutive world final. Doherty however, was unable to reproduce the form of the previous year enabling Higgins to push home his superiority for an 18 - 12 victory. 1999 - Winner Stephen Hendry Record breaking Scotsman Stephen Hendry did it again. A seventh world title made him the most successful player in world championship history. Up against first time finalist Mark Williams Hendry was rarely in danger, winning 18 - 11. Williams looked somewhat drained from his encounters in earlier rounds, but one thing was sure this talented Welshman would be back again 2000 - Winner Mark Williams The first all Welsh world championship final in snooker history, between beaten finalist from 1999, Mark Williams and the newcomer Matthew Stevens.

Williams won 8- 9 to win his first world title in a match that failed to live up to expectations. 2001 - Winner Ronnie O'Sullivan Ronnie O'Sullivan celebrates with the trophy after the match - Snooker - Embassy World Championship - Crucible Theatre, Sheffield Tuesday May 8. A shell shocked John Higgins,the match finished 18 - 14 and O'Sullivan was a worthy Champion. 2002 - Winner Peter Ebdon New world champion Peter Ebdon admitted he felt he was on a "different planet" as he won a thrilling final at The Crucible. Ebdon held on in a tense deciding frame to beat Stephen Hendry and win a match that finished at past midnight. 2003 - Winner Mark Williams Mark Williams seals a dramatic 18-16 victory over Ken Doherty to clinch the World Snooker Championship. 2004 - Winner Ronnie Osullivan The 2004 Embassy World Snooker Championship took place between 17 April and 3 May 2004 at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield between Osullivan and Graeme Dott.

Tthe final winner was Ronnie O'Sullivan, beating Graeme Dott by 18 frames to 8 (the fourth biggest margin in a final, equalled by O'Sullivan against Ali Carter in 2008) in the final, despite Dott having led 5–0. 2005 - Winner Shaun Murphy The 2005 Embassy World Snooker Championship professional ranking snooker tournament took place between 16 April and 2 May 2005 at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield, England. Ronnie O'Sullivan looked to defend his world title which he won in 2004, but the final winner was the relatively fresh faced Shaun Murphy, beating Matthew Stevens by 18 frames to 16 in the final. 2006 - Winner Graeme Dott The final was contested between Ebdon and Graeme Dott, and the victor was Dott by 18 frames to 14, earning him his first professional title in his 12-year career, and a £200,000 cheque.

2007 - Winner John Higgins The 2007 888.com World Snooker Championship professional ranking snooker tournament began on 21 April and ran until 7 May 2007 (with the final continuing into the early hours of 8 May) at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield. It was won by John Higgins, who defeated Mark Selby 18–13 in the final. 2008 - Winner Ronnie Osullivan The 2008 888.com World Snooker Championship professional ranking snooker tournament took place between 19 April and 5 May 2008 at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield. Ronnie O'Sullivan became the champion for the third time after beating Ali Carter 18–8. 2009 - Winner John Higgins The 2009 World Snooker Championship (also known as the 2009 Betfred.com World Snooker Championship for sponsorship purposes) professional ranking snooker tournament took place between 18 April and 4 May at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield. This was the first time that the World Snooker Championship had been sponsored by Betfred.

John Higgins beat Shaun Murphy by 18–9, winning the third world title of his career 2010 - Winner Neil Robertson The 2010 Betfred.com World Snooker Championship snooker tournament took place between 17 April and 4 May 2010 at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, England. John Higgins, who entered the tournament as the defending champion, lost in the second round 11–13 against Steve Davis. In the semi-finals, Neil Robertson defeated Ali Carter 17–12 and Graeme Dott beat Mark Selby 17–14. Robertson won the final 18–13, becoming the first Australian in the modern era to win the title. 2011 - Winner John Higgins The 2011 Betfred.com World Snooker Championship professional ranking snooker tournament took place between 16 April and 2 May 2011 at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, England. It was the 74th edition of the event and was the last ranking event of the 2010/2011 snooker season.

Neil Robertson was the defending champion, but lost 8–10 against Judd Trump in the first round. Trump and John Higgins reached the final by defeating Ding Junhui 17–15 and Mark Williams 17–14 respectively. John Higgins won his fourth World Championship title defeating Judd Trump by 18–15 in the final. 2012 - Winner Ronnie Osullivan The 2012 Betfred.com World Snooker Championship professional ranking snooker tournament took place between 21st April and 7 May 2012 at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield. Ronnie O'Sullivan became the champion for the forth time after beating Ali Carter 18–11. Frank Callan Suite - 282 Ribbleton Lane, Ribbleton, Preston, Lancashire, England - PR1 5EB - tel.

+ 44 (0) 1772 702211 - info@fcsnooker.co.uk Visit the links below for further information>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> World Snooker Championship: Shaun Murphy 'better now' - BBC Sport BBC Sport World Snooker Championship: Shaun Murphy 'better now' By Ben Dirs Read more about sharing. Murphy is one of only 10 players to have won snooker's Triple Crown of World Championship, UK Championship and Masters A sportsperson's relationship with his or her game is not much different to an actual romance. To paraphrase Billy Bragg, if you take your precious game apart, to see how it works, the risk is you'll forget how to put it together again. In 2005, Shaun Murphy won the World Snooker Championship aged only 22. He was the second-youngest player to win the Crucible title, after Stephen Hendry, only the third qualifier and a 150-1 shot before the tournament started. Six-time champion Steve Davis said Murphy had the best cue action he had ever seen.

The chubby kid from a small village in Northamptonshire went for pretty much everything and didn't miss much. Murphy, like most kids in the flush of youth, thought it would always be this way. "After I won the World Championship," Murphy, the reigning Masters champion, tells BBC Sport, "I do remember thinking: 'It won't be another 10 years before I win this again.' Things didn't exactly pan out like that. "I got battle scarred quickly. At some stage, when I was 23 or 24, what I was doing went wrong. I was going for too many shots and losing to players I shouldn't have been losing to. That was when I started trying to become a more tactical player. "I took on too much advice from people who meant well, but I should have stuck to my guns.

If I could get in a time machine and go back, I'd give myself a shake and say: 'Stick to what you're doing, play your natural game.' Murphy was the first qualifier to win the World Championship since Terry Griffiths in 1979 "When I look at old footage and see some of the shots I played, I'm sat there shouting at the telly - 'what on earth are you doing?!' But it's what I've tried to rediscover. I'm a little bit cleverer and I can get in the trenches and fight it out. But I'm trying to go back to the 22-year-old me - if a shot's on, I'll go for it." It sounds simple. But it wasn't, and never is in sport. Last year, Murphy considered quitting the game, having been driven to distraction by his inability to translate thousands of hours of practice into tournament success. "There were a few dark years when I wasn't practising enough, was doing too many golf days and charity events," says the world number eight, who kicks off his Crucible campaign against qualifier Robin Hull next Wednesday.

"I still got to the final of the Masters, the UK Championship (both in 2012) and the Worlds (in 2009). But I wanted to be a winner. It was difficult being a loser, I didn't like it. "Then when I started putting the hard work in, banging balls in all day long, day after day, I still wasn't getting anything for it. Losing 6-1 to Mark Selby in the semi-finals of the Masters last year was almost the final nail in the coffin. "I could have easily walked away from snooker there and then. I've no idea what I would have done. Anything that didn't hurt that badly." Murphy says the "click" that all players hope to hear happened at an obscure Championship League match in Essex last year. In 2014, Murphy won minor ranking events in Poland, Bulgaria and Germany and the World Open in China. In January, Murphy got revenge over Selby in the Masters, pipping him 6-5 in the first round before trouncing Australia's Neil Robertson 10-2 in the final.

Murphy has won five ranking titles and seven non-ranking events, including the Masters "You become like a mad scientist," says Murphy, "coming up with all these different ideas, looking for a secret, and when you find it you want to tell everybody. But I've decided it's probably best I keep the secret to myself." While Murphy is happy to have rediscovered what set him apart on a snooker table, he is also glad to have parted company with the "gobby" know-it-all who made enemies among his fellow pros and left many fans of the game cold. As a younger man, Murphy had an opinion on pretty much everything. You only had to ask. He railed against opponents taking toilet breaks and sneered when they complained about playing conditions and prize money. And even before his Crucible triumph, Murphy had earned a reputation as something of a sneak. In a 2004 Grand Prix encounter against Stephen Maguire, the Scot was docked the opening frame after leaving the arena to retrieve his chalk. Maguire said it was Murphy who asked the referee for the punishment to be applied. Although Murphy denied this at the time, Maguire has never forgotten it.

Five-time Crucible champion Ronnie O'Sullivan also came in for some tongue-lashings, which meant it was easy to paint Murphy as a priggish old woman, in stark contrast to the freewheeling O'Sullivan, the maverick non-conformist. Murphy lost to O'Sullivan at the Crucible in round two in 2011 and the last eight last year "I said a few things I wish I could take back," says Murphy. "I criticised a few players and I wish I'd kept my own counsel a bit more and focused on what I was doing. I thought I knew everything. It turned out I was wrong. "No-one gave me a handbook after I won the world title. I had to make it up as I went along. But I've changed beyond recognition. I'm a more rounded individual, a nicer, better person away from the table and a better player on it." Murphy has also rediscovered love beyond the baize, which has to be good for the perspective. Last Christmas, he got engaged to Elaine, whom he met on a dating website. The fact he was a former snooker world champion did not feature on his profile.

"We went for a bite to eat on the third or fourth date and a group of lads came over for a picture and an autograph," says Murphy. "She said: 'So, this snooker thing you do? It's actually quite serious?' But she still didn't really get it. When she came to see me play at the Masters, that's when she got it. "I'm madly in love with her. It's a big weight off your shoulders when you realise that this thing you've been chasing and chasing and chasing isn't the be all and end all - there are other things out there after all. You also start looking at friends with families and thinking: 'That might be nice for me.'" Murphy's Crucible record since 2005 Final 1st round 1 (2012) Murphy recently moved from Sale to Nottingham to support his fiancée's career - she is an assistant professor of chemical biology at Nottingham University - and is confident his new-found contentment will bear more fruit on the baize. "The goal is to win at least one more World Championship," he says. "There are a few household names who have never won it and not many have won more than one.

"But Ronnie will be the man to beat again this year, just as he is every time he picks his cue up. He'll have had a few weeks off, because he didn't play the China Open, and he will have been practising his whatsits off, believe you me. "Whenever he says he's not bothered about winning, that means he's really keen and we all up our practice. I think someone should tell Ronnie that no-one falls for it. He's as hungry to win as anybody." O'Sullivan might be the man to beat but Murphy will be the happiest man in Sheffield - a wise man playing like a kid again. We've worked out his secret.

Share this page Mark Selby - World Snooker Mark Selby 147 - Jiangsu Classic 2009, UK Championship 2013 Location Sunday 11 Jan 2015 05:50pm Recent Results 2016 Champion of Champions Quarter-final 2016 China Championship Quarter-final 2016 English Open Last 64 2016 European Masters Semi-final 2016 Six Red World Championship Last 32 2016 Paul Hunter Classic Winner 2016 World Open Last 32 2016 Riga Masters Last 64 10 Ranking event wins including: 2012 UK Championship, 2014 World Championship, 2015 German Masters, 2015 China Open, 2016 World Championship, 2016 International Championship, 2016 UK Championship. 3x Masters Champion (2008,2010,2013) Selby claimed a second UK Championship title in 2016.

In a high standard final, the 33-year-old saw off Ronnie O’Sullivan 10-7. The win meant that Selby became only the sixth player to win all three Triple Crown events on multiple occasions. A remarkable Crucible performance secured a second world title for Mark Selby in May. Struggling to reach his best form in the early rounds, he produced gritty displays to battle past Robert Milkins, Sam Baird and Kyren Wilson. The Leicester potter then played great snooker in the last session of his semi-final with Marco Fu to force his way to a 17-15 win. Selby led for the entire final in an 18-14 victory over Ding Junhui, to become only the sixth player to win more than once at the Crucible. Earlier in the season he recorded a win at the 2016 Gdynia Open. Victories over the likes of John Higgins and Marco Fu saw Selby reach the final where he dispatched Martin Gould 4-1 to take home the title. Selby won three events during the 2014/15 season, though he was ultimately to become the latest victim of the so-called Curse of the Crucible.

He started his campaign strongly with victory at the 2014 Riga Open following a 4-3 defeat of Mark Allen. Later in the season Selby won six matches to reach the final of the 2015 German Masters. He conquered close friend Shaun Murphy in an exciting contest 9-7. Selby sealed a sixth career ranking title at the 2015 China Open, after thrashing Gary Wilson 10-2 to pick up the £85,000 prize. Shortly after, seeking to retain his World Championship crown, Selby succumbed to a 13-9 defeat to Anthony McGill in the second round. A year earlier Selby guaranteed his place in snooker folklore, winning the sport’s biggest prize for the first time. He defeated Ronnie O’Sullivan 18-14 at the Crucible to become World Champion and pick up £300,000. At the 2013 UK Championship in the semi-finals, Selby enjoyed a historic moment as he made the 100th official 147 in competition play.

His maximum banked him £59,000 and finished with a superb pot on the last black to the centre pocket. Selby captured the 2012 UK Championship in York by beating Shaun Murphy 10-6 in the final. Just a few weeks later, he won another of snooker’s big three events, defeating Neil Robertson 10-6 to win his third Masters title. The Leicester cueman has enjoyed great success at the Masters. He won his first title in 2008 after a 10-3 demolition of Stephen Lee. Selby was then involved in one of the game’s great finals as he came back from 9-6 down to defeat Ronnie O’Sullivan 10-9. The Leicester City fan’s first breakthrough came at the 2002 China Open when, aged just 18, he beat Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O’Sullivan to reach the semi-finals before losing to Anthony Hamilton. Selby proved in 2006 that he also has a knack for pool as he won the World 8-Ball Championship, beating Darren Appleton 11-7 in the final.

Latest News 2008 in Snooker: 2008 World Snooker Championship, 2008 Championship League, 2008 Shanghai Masters, 2008 Uk Championship: Amazon.es: Books LLC: Libros en idiomas extranjeros DescripciÃ³n del producto Reseña del editor Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. Pages: 152. Not illustrated.

Chapters: 2008 World Snooker Championship, 2008 Championship League, 2008 Shanghai Masters, 2008 Uk Championship, 2008 Bahrain Championship, 2008 Northern Ireland Trophy, 2008 China Open, 2008 Welsh Open, 2008 Masters, World Series of Snooker 2008/2009, Snooker World Ranking Points 2008/2009, Snooker World Ranking Points 2007/2008, 2008 Grand Prix, 2008 Six-Red Snooker International, Snooker Season 2008/2009, Snooker World Rankings 2007/2008, Snooker World Rankings 2008/2009, 2008 Malta Cup, 2008 Jiangsu Classic, 2008 Premier League Snooker, Snooker Season 2007/2008, 2008 Irish Classic.

Excerpt: The 2008 888.com World Snooker Championship took place between 19 April and 5 May 2008 at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield. Ronnie O'Sullivan became the champion for the third time after beating Ali Carter 188. Shown below are the results for each round. The numbers in brackets beside some of the players are their seeding ranks (each championship has 16 seeds and 16 qualifiers). The preliminary qualifying rounds for the tournament took place in Pontin's Prestatyn, Wales between 3 and 5 January 2008. The qualifying rounds for the tournament took place in Pontin's Prestatyn, Wales between 6 and 11 January 2008. The final round of qualifying took place at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield between 7 and 10 March. The highest break received a prize of £10,000, and a 147 break received a prize of £147,000 a total of £157,000.

This prize was shared, as two players made a 147, thus winning £78,500 each. No es necesario ningÃºn dispositivo Kindle. DescÃ¡rgate una de las apps de Kindle gratuitas para comenzar a leer libros Kindle en tu smartphone, tablet u ordenador. Apple Snooker: Quick-fire win confirms that O'Sullivan is in class of his own | Sport | The Guardian World Snooker Championship 2008 Quick-fire win confirms that O'Sullivan is in class of his own Ronnie O'Sullivan lifts snooker's most-prized trophy for the third time after defeating Ali Carter. Photograph: Keith Williams/Action Images. Clive Everton at The Crucible Monday 5 May 2008 22.15 EDT First published on Monday 5 May 2008 22.15 EDT Share on Messenger Close Ronnie O'Sullivan's third world title has restored his pre-eminence at the top of the world rankings by a huge margin.

His defeat of Allister Carter has pocketed a first prize of £250,000 and a half share of the £157,000 bonus available for a 147. Carter's £125,000 as runner-up also brought him by far the biggest payday of his 12-year professional career. "I'm happy to have won it but it was tough" said O'Sullivan. "Even when I had a big lead I was thinking in the back of my mind that it would be a killer if I lost. When you've got 1,000 people here and millions watching on TV the pressure can make it hard to think straight." In comparison with his 17-6 semi-final trouncing of Stephen Hendry, O'Sullivan's performance in the final was no more than average - below it in the penultimate session yesterday afternoon - but it was sufficient to pull away from the mentally exhausted Carter, extending his overnight 11-5 lead to 16-8, leaving him needing only two of the scheduled 11 frames in the evening. O'Sullivan polished it off in two.

O'Sullivan's triumph makes him only the third player, after Steve Davis with six and Hendry with seven, to win more than two world titles since the Crucible became the home of the championship in 1977. Carter had never previously gone beyond the world championship quarter-finals and failed to capitalise on a 40-0 lead in yesterday's opening frame, which was enlivened by a bizarre black which hit the corner jaws at speed, leapt into the air and descended vertically from a height of nine inches into the pocket. When O'Sullivan, who had led 11-5 overnight, secured that frame with his late 52 and added two of the next three, it seemed conceivable he might win with a session to spare as had Steve Davis, over Cliff Thorburn in 1983 and John Parrott six years later, and Stephen Hendry, against Jimmy White in 1993. Carter's pride, though, helped him to breaks of 84 and 71 as he won two of the next three frames. O'Sullivan never gave way to impatience but there was insufficient threat to stimulate him.

On the resumption, O'Sullivan's 68 left Carter fruitlessly pursuing a snooker so the following frame seemed almost like the last rites to a disappointingly one-sided final in what was otherwise one of the liveliest and highest-quality championships for several years.

Question: Who became World Snooker Champion for the third time in 2008?
Answer: Ronnie O'Sullivan