MARK SELBY'S UNLIKELY PATH TO ALL-TIME GREATNESS

After everyone has settled down from Selby's fourth World Championship win at the Crucible in May, it's time to cease the controversies a bit and appreciate how Mark Selby came from a low-ranked veteran on tour to a player that has now put himself in the conversation for top 3 all-time (and counting).

A professional since 1999, it took Selby eight entire seasons to finally breakthrough in the main tour. Selby's run to the final of the 2007 World Championship as a qualifier was his first standout result as a pro.

Whatever happened in 2007 and 2008 we don't know, but something clicked for Selby as he later reached the semifinals of the UK Championship (only to lose in that famous semifinal where Ronnie scored a 147 in the decider), and won the Masters on his debut. 

However, these to me were not the turnaround years for Mark Selby's career. He had become a top player, yes - but still wasn't what you'd call "a top 10 talent".

By 2012, Selby was a two-time Masters champion, but had failed to reach another World Championship final or even reach another UK Championship semifinal. And it's worth to remember that back then the UK Championship was more prestigious than the Masters, even though the tables have turned now.

Mark Selby was seen at the time as a player who could do very well at the Masters, but disappointed a little in ranking tournaments - particularly the UK Championship and at the Crucible. Also, he was 29 and we weren't as used as we are now to see even 40+ players amongst the top.

It was then that something really changed. Mark Selby found a new gear that we didn't think he had, but made him the most dominant snooker player snooker has seen for the last 20 years.

Selby won the 2012 UK Championship and that was the first wind of a storm that came. He finished the next 7 seasons as world number one (second longest streak of all-time), won another Masters in 2013, another UK Championship in 2016 to add to his 2012 triumph and, not less than FOUR world titles from 8 championships played between 2014 and 2021.

7 triple crown titles since 2012, adding to the two he had won before, puts the reigning Champion of the World in a league of his own in recent times. As of right now, we may not put him in the "GOAT" conversation just yet, but how far do you fancy the 38 years-old getting to?

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