Mark Selby has opened up on the heartbreaking text he received days before his record-breaking fourth China Open win. The 'Jester from Leicester' secured a 10-6 win against Noppon Saengkham in Taiyuan to lift his 26th career ranking title. It was a success that earned him £250,000 in prize money and moved him from ninth to fifth in the world.
Emotional dedication
While Selby, 43, was delighted to win, he did admit he has had a difficult couple of days thinking about a text that he got from back home. In that message, it revealed that one of Selby's friends from home is ill and only has "two months to live".
Speaking to TNT Sports, Selby said: "I still get nervous before the start of matches, but you know that's why I still keep playing the game. But this week has been tough, especially the last few days.
"One of my friends back home text me saying one of my good friends that I've known since 11 or 12, he has been poorly for a while and he text me a couple of days ago saying he has basically been given two months to live. They had a charity night last night back home which if I would have been there. So, if you're watching Waity, this one is for you mate."
Path to the final
Selby's win against Saengkham ended an impressive week of snooker for the Leicester-born player. He beat the likes of Kyren Wilson, Neil Robertson and Stuart Bingham to reach Sunday's showpiece China final.
"I played some good stuff this week, somewhere near close to my best," Selby added. "Noppon played great, he's had a fantastic tournament and he's probably one of the nicer guys on the circuit.
"I was very fortunate to get out of the session 4-4 today because I felt Noppon was the better player in the first session, I was just holding on to him from 4-2. I played a lot better tonight which was pleasing."
Saengkham's reaction
Meanwhile, Saengkham, who is ranked 45th in the snooker world, was still upbeat post-match despite defeat.
"I feel very happy because today I played okay," the Thai star admitted. "Mark pushed me all the way under pressure, and it was a really good game to learn something."
At one point in the game, however, Saengkham was 4-2 up and looking to make it a three-frame lead, but a foul while attempting to play the blue put his hopes of winning the seventh frame under threat. Selby watched as Saengkham's attempt to play a thin-cut safety inadvertently presented him with a way back into the game.
The referee called a foul, prompting Saengkham to immediately appeal the decision. However, after further inspection of the replay, the referee's decision was upheld, to the surprise of both players.
