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Mark Selby admits 'pinch me moment' as UK Championship win sees him join snooker greats

Mark Selby has moved into the top four on snooker's all-time Triple Crown list after a thrilling UK Championship victory against Judd Trump and said it was a "pinch me moment"

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(Image: PA)

Mark Selby said it was a "pinch me moment" to move into the top four on the all-time Triple Crown list after securing his 10th with a third career UK Championship title.

The 42-year-old dethroned Judd Trump at the York Barbican in a brilliant final on Sunday. With Selby having led 5-0 and 7-2, defending champion Trump threatened to pull off a sensational comeback after pulling just one frame away from his opponent at 8-7 and 9-8, but Selby regained his composure to see it out for his first UK title since 2016.

'The Jester from Leicester', a four-time World Championship winner, won his first Triple Crown title since 2021 and laughed: "It's amazing to win another Triple Crown - they're not easy to win. As you can tell, it took me nine years to get back here! [in the UK Championship final]"

[Ronnie O'Sullivan is still a long way out in front]

Ronnie O'Sullivan is still a long way out in front(Image: PA)

The victory puts Selby ahead of John Higgins in snooker history, lifting him above the Scot into fourth on the all-time Triple Crown list, behind only the great Steve Davis in third on 15, Stephen Hendry in second on 18 and the genius Ronnie O'Sullivan in first with 23.

Selby told SportsBoom.co.uk: "Ronnie, Hendry, Davis. It's not a bad category to be with, the three all-time greats of the game. It's sort of a pinch me moment when you look at them players.

"I want to try and win as many as I can. So that's just for other people to say regarding that. I'm not one to sit here and sort of blow my arms bit and say I deserve to be in that category with them. That's really not for me to say.

[Stephen Hendry is second on the list]

Stephen Hendry is second on the list(Image: PA)

[Steve Davis is third]

Steve Davis is third(Image: PA)

"When I do finally stop playing and I look back and then you look at the records, you'll probably sit down with your slippers on, having a cup of tea and think, 'you know what, the boy from the council estate in Leicester, literally with no money, has done well'."

He has also overtaken Higgins, who is on nine. Selby said: "Yeah, incredible. I mean John's [Higgins] like one of the players I've looked up to for years when I was a young lad.

"He's still capable of winning another Triple Crown himself and wouldn't surprise me if he'd done it this year, hes that good.

"But yeah, incredible to get in front of him. I get on with John really well, so I can have a bit of banter about that.

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