Ronnie O’Sullivan knows long-time rival Mark Selby by another name
Ronnie O’Sullivan has given Mark Selby a quirky nickname(Image: Zhe Ji/Getty Images)
Mark Selby insists he takes Ronnie O’Sullivan’s nickname for him as a compliment. The Jester from Leicester is regarded as one of the toughest match players in snooker history, which often leads to long matches and late finishes.
As a result, O’Sullivan coined the nickname of ‘Midnight Selby’ and joked that rivals never wanted to be scheduled after the four-time world champion. The Rocket once said: “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 aren’t close, there is mutual respect and Selby takes no offence from 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.
JOIN US ON FACEBOOK! All the best sports news and much more on our dedicated Facebook page
“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.”
READ MORE: Zhao Xintong shows prowess in another sport after dramatic World Championship winREAD MORE: Rory McIlroy shows true colours with gesture to World Snooker Championship star
Selby admitted he would like to have O’Sullivan’s natural ability, 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 record at the Crucible is poor, having lost in the first round to fellow Leicester potters Joe O’Connor and Ben Woollaston in the last two years. This year, he faces Welshman Jak Jones in the first round, with the match set to begin on Wednesday.
While not friends, there is plenty of mutual respect between the fair(Image: Getty)
Selby, who won 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 begins his campaign against Chinese qualifier He Guoqiang on Tuesday.
Mark Selby was speaking to Midnite, the UK betting & Casino partner at the World Championship. This year sees the return of the Midnite Maximum initiative, where a lucky fan will win up to £100,000 if a 147 is hit.
Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.
Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.
