Mark Selby dedicates World Snooker Championship title to late father

The 30-year-old Leicester-based player dedicated his maiden world title to his late father David, who died of cancer in 1999.

15:42 06 May 2014

30-year-old Mark Selby won World Snooker Championship title after he beat defending champion Ronnie O’Sullivan 18-14, prompting the new winner to dedicate his triumph to his late father David who died of cancer in 1999. 

 

Selby, who overturned a 10-15 deficit to win, said that his father wanted him to be right where he is right now. He said: “My father died when I was 16, two months before I turned professional, and his last words were, 'I want you to become world champion.” 

 

"I said to him, 'I will do one day'. Thankfully, today it's come true."

 

He admitted that he got too tired after a gruelling semi-final victory over Neil Robertson. 

 

"Every time I got a chance, I felt like I was capable of scoring, but on Sunday I was missing balls because of tiredness," he said. 

 

"But towards the end, when Ronnie came back to 15-14 and asked me the question, I probably played my best snooker of the final in those last three frames. I needed to attack him and I did." 

 

"To beat Ronnie in the final to win my first world title is a dream come true.”