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Selby dreaming of a fourth world title with Ronnie test up next

Mark Selby is hoping to claim his fourth world title at the Crucible this year
Mark Selby is hoping to claim his fourth world title at the Crucible this year

The one-table setup awaits for Mark Selby at this year's Betfred World Snooker Championship and the Jester from Leicester couldn't imagine anything better.

Selby got the better of Australian Neil Robertson 13-7 in the quarter-finals, setting up a last-four showdown with Ronnie O'Sullivan in Sheffield.

A Crucible classic could therefore be in store but Selby was relieved just to make it to the semi-finals following early exits in the previous two seasons.

Three titles in four years saw the 37-year-old dominate snooker's leading tournament in the 2010s, with his current return to form certainly welcome on the biggest stage of all.

"It's a great venue when it's a two-table setup but there's nothing better than going out there in the one-table arena," he said.

"It's a shame there's no crowd but it's such a special occasion.

"I always enjoy playing Ronnie in any tournament, I always see it as a challenge - I've played him in the three major tournaments and I'm sure this will be the same."

Just getting past 2010 world champion Robertson was a task in itself for Selby, easing into a 5-0 lead before being pegged back in the first two sessions.

The Leicester cueman is certainly a grinder on the table and he used his assets to great effect, denying Robertson a chance to get going in Sheffield.

Breaks of 91 and 56 saw Selby reel off the first two frames of the session, and while his opponent pulled one back, a convincing victory was sealed with five frames to spare.

He said: "I'm over the moon. I knew it was going to be a tough game against Neil and that I had to be on top of my game to compete.

"I felt that in 80 or 90 per cent of the match I was on top.

"I felt I could score when I got a chance, my safety was good and I kept him at bay for long periods of time, so the gameplan went to plan.

"For matchplay and my all-round game, that was pretty good. I didn't go crash, bang, wallop around the table making break after break.

"But that was definitely up there as one of my better games since last winning the title."

Live snooker returns to Eurosport and the Eurosport app. Watch the World Championship from 31st July – 16th August with analysis from Jimmy White.