World Championship star speaks out on cheeky nickname Ronnie O’Sullivan gave him | Other | Sport

Mark Selby has revealed he takes Ronnie O’Sullivan’s nickname for him as a badge of honour. The Jester from Leicester is considered one of the most formidable players in snooker history, a reputation that often results in lengthy matches and late-night finishes.

It was this trait that prompted O’Sullivan to coin the nickname ‘Midnight Selby’, joking that fellow professionals dreaded being scheduled after the four-time world champion. The Rocket once quipped: “I call him ‘Midnight Selby’ because his games go past midnight every night. He’s a nightmare! You don’t want to be following Mark because you’re going into the next day.” While the pair are not particularly close, there is mutual respect and Selby has no issue with the moniker given to him by the seven-time Crucible king.

Selby told the World Championship’s betting partner Midnite: “When people are talking about you, I always think that you’re doing something right.

“If it wasn’t mentioned, anything, then you’re sort of not even in the conversations, shall I say. We’ve had some great battles over the years. I respect him, he respects me.”

Selby confessed he would like to have O’Sullivan’s innate skills, adding: “I’d love to have his talent and ability, right and left-handed, but I’m not one of them.

“I have to work hard and nothing comes easy, so I give it my all every time I go out there and leave nothing on the table. Hopefully, I can walk away and just think, if I lose, I’ve not lost through not trying.”

Selby’s recent form at the Crucible has been disappointing, having been knocked out in the opening round by fellow Leicester stars Joe O’Connor and Ben Woollaston over the past two years. This year, he takes on Welshman Jak Jones in the first round, with the encounter scheduled to start on Wednesday.

Selby, who claimed the UK Championship in December, said: “You’ve got 32 players in it from the start, all great players. If you don’t play well, then you don’t win. Simple. The standard is so tough now.

“I’ve had a good season so far on paper, played some really good stuff, so I’ll go in there, try my best, but every day is different.

“I’m playing well at the minute but it doesn’t mean to say I’m going to go out there and play well on Wednesday. Hopefully, if I do, I feel like I’ve got a chance to get through.”

O’Sullivan kicks off his campaign against Chinese qualifier He Guoqiang on Tuesday. It marks the 50-year-old’s return to action after losing the World Open final in March.