"Very, Very Close to My Best”: Mark Selby Revived and Ready for Judd Trump Rematch

Four-time world champion Mark Selby booked his place in a fourth UK Championship final after a scintillating display against one of the season’s in-form players, reigning Masters champion Shaun Murphy.

The ‘Jester from Leicester’ will now renew his rivalry with current world number one Judd Trump, a rematch of last month’s Champion of Champions final in Leicester, where Selby was at his brilliant best in a commanding 10–5 victory.

Does Beating Trump Recently Give Him an Edge?

With that recent triumph still fresh, we asked Selby whether the win gives him added confidence or any mental edge heading into Sunday’s final.

"Not really. I think every games different. I think Judd's probably in a better frame of mind now than what he was,” Selby told SportsBoom.co.uk. 

"I don't feel as though he is played anywhere near the top of his game, he's battled and played some good match play snooker, but he seems to be a lot more confident in himself, and with his equipment going back to his new cue."

"I think his mindset, like I say, will be definitely different and he’ll be fancying the job a lot more than what he probably did do a couple of weeks ago in that Champion Champions.”

Selby Nearing Career-Best Form

This week in York, Selby has looked close to his formidable peak, a level pundits and legends such as Steve Davis and Stephen Hendry have praised as title-winning form.

Against Murphy he delivered two stunning century breaks of 105 and 127, along with contributions of 73, 73, and 72. In the context of the tricky table conditions players have complained about all week, the performance only highlighted how sharp Selby’s game truly is.

Asked just how close he is to his all-time best, Selby didn’t hesitate.

"Very, very close.”

"Some of the matches I've played in the last few weeks, I can't really play much better than that."

"The standard I played against Judd in the final of the champion champions was very, very good."

"And then there I've just done an interview in the studio, and they said I missed 12 balls all match, which looking back, it's crazy really considering you're playing like nine frames and you're going to miss balls. But to miss only that amount is really pleasing."

From Considering Retirement to Competing for Titles

Selby’s revival feels worlds away from where he was just 18 months ago. At the end of the 2024 season, his relationship with the sport had reached a breaking point. 

During the 2024 Tour Championship he openly admitted, in an interview with SportsBoom, that he was contemplating retirement.

A year and a half later, he is back competing for the sport’s biggest prizes and enjoying it again.

Selby explained how his mindset has shifted.

"I've always said it's the enjoyment. If I'm not enjoying it, then it doesn't matter what you've achieved or how you're playing."

"The enjoyment is the biggest thing for me because if you're not enjoying it, then you're not going to compete. You can't compete to the best of your ability."

"Back then I wasn't enjoying it, hence why I was saying what I was saying. But now I feel like in a bit better place, I feel better about my game physically as well. I feel good on the shot."

"I feel like I'm going to punish people when I get chances where before I was, I was waiting for the light to go off every 20 minutes and putting another 50p and it was getting to that standard."

“I’m just pleased to be back to where I am,” he concluded.