Mark Selby eyes snooker's Triple Crown after Masters win (original) (raw)
Mark Selby is targeting his first World Championship title to seal snooker's Triple Crown after winning the Masters for the third time in six years.
The world number one, 29, secured a 10-6 victory over Neil Robertson at Alexandra Palace on Sunday.
Selby hopes to be the first man since Mark Williams in 2003 to win the UK, Masters and world titles in one season.
"I'll go there trying my best to achieve it. There are a lot of great players out there," Selby said.
He wants to go one better at the Crucible for the World Championship, which starts in April, than in 2007 when he was beaten in the final by John Higgins., external
Aside from Williams, Stephen Hendry - who completed the treble twice - and Steve Davis are the only other players to have completed the hat-trick of major tournament wins in the same season.
Selby's victory in the Masters follows on from him winning the UK Championship and returning to the top of the world rankings in December.
Last year he feared he might have to quit the sport due to a neck problem.
The player, nicknamed the Jester from Leicester, said: "It's just unbelievable. At one stage I didn't know whether I was going to be playing again.
"Now I'm sitting here after winning the UK Championship in December and the Masters in January. I've got a good team around me and they helped pull me through."
Australian Robertson paid tribute to Selby's powers of recovery.
"It was really worrying times for him. He didn't know whether or not he would play again and that must have been absolutely horrible," said the 30-year-old, who won the 2010 world title.
"I guess he feels he's got a new lease of life. He's such a tough competitor. He deserves everything he gets out of the game. He probably practises harder than any other player."
The World Championship runs from 20 April to 6 May and will be broadcast on BBC 1.
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