Mark Selby has warned his rivals that he still has plenty to achieve in the game, despite now being a three-time world champion. The ‘Jester from Leicester’ is the star draw at this week’s Hong Kong Masters, which takes place at the Queen Elizabeth Stadium and features the likes of Ronnie O’Sullivan, Judd Trump and John Higgins in an eight-man straight knockout competition.
Thursday’s match with Neil Robertson will signal Selby’s return to competitive action after rounding off last term with a third World Championship crown. A result either way will not change his status as the world number one due to it being a non-ranking event in Hong Kong but, nevertheless, he will be keen to make a strong start to the campaign. With him being one of just six players to have twice won the ‘Triple Crown’ of World Championship, UK Championship and the Masters, the 34-year-old has done plenty in his career and is even being tipped to rival Stephen Hendry’s record of seven world titles.
Selby himself believes he still has up to a decade at the top level and has warned his rivals that he is far from satisfied with his current trophy haul. He said: “I probably have another eight to 10 years and if you look at that, probably yes, but it is really difficult to get to seven. “My target is only to maintain the world number one [position] as long as possible and try to win as many tournaments as possible.” There are also two matches on Friday, with Judd Trump 1.53 to beat Shaun Murphy, who is 2.50, while Ronnie O’Sullivan heads into his match against John Higgins as the 1.67 favourite, as opposed to the Scot’s price of 2.20.
Odds above and other markets are available at Dafabet.com.