Mark Selby is a four-time world snooker champion and one of the most formidable match players of his generation.
Mark Selby – Career Snapshot
| Date of birth: | 19 June, 1983 |
| Nationality: | England |
| Turned professional: | 1999 |
| Highest world ranking: | 1 |
| Ranking titles: | 25 |
| World Championship titles: | 4 |
| Triple Crown titles: | 10 |
| Masters appearances: | 18 |
| Maximum 147 breaks: | 6 |
Mark Selby’s Snooker Career
Mark Selby first turned professional all the way back in 1999, and he has proceeded to carve out a legendary career for himself. The Jester has built a reputation for himself as being the master of brinkmanship and a competitor who rarely loses in big-match finals.
But that wasn’t always the case, and Selby in fact lost eight out of his first 11 ranking event finals between 2003 and 2014. There had been plenty of seeds sewn regarding his overall potential by the time the 2014 World Snooker Championship came along, however.
Just over six years earlier, Selby won the first of a famous hat-trick of Masters titles in London, and soon after landed a maiden ranking title too. In the Welsh Open final of 2008, Selby fought back from 8-5 behind to deny Ronnie O’Sullivan in a decider, and so one of the greatest rivalries in the sport was born.
The pair traded blows in Masters finals between 2009 and 2014, but it was in the latter year’s edition of the World Championship at the Crucible where Selby’s career transformed forever. Fighting back from a 10-5 deficit, Selby tortured the Rocket into submission with what had become his trademark tactical prowess.
Further world titles came in 2016, 2017, and 2021 as the Leicester man firmly established himself as one of the all-time greats. Selby’s overall consistency over that period was similarly reflected in his dominance at the top of the rankings list.
Between 2012 and 2018, he was an ever-present at the top of the standings and finished each season during that spell as the world number one. After winning his fourth world title, Selby endured a dip in form that culminated in him revealing his long-term battle with depression.
But despite that battle away from the table, he was still able to gain wins on it – highlighted by an 11-year streak of capturing at least one ranking title in each calendar year between 2014 and 2025. At the end of 2025, Selby was back winning some of the biggest titles again after securing back-to-back triumphs at the Champion of Champions and the UK Championship.
Mark Selby’s Ranking Titles
Mark Selby has won a total of 25 ranking titles during his professional career.
| Year | Tournament |
|---|---|
| 2008 | Welsh Open |
| 2011 | Shanghai Masters |
| 2012 | UK Championship |
| 2014 | World Snooker Championship |
| 2015 | German Masters |
| 2015 | China Open |
| 2016 | World Snooker Championship |
| 2016 | Paul Hunter Classic |
| 2016 | International Championship |
| 2016 | UK Championship |
| 2017 | China Open |
| 2017 | World Snooker Championship |
| 2017 | International Championship |
| 2018 | China Open |
| 2018 | China Championship |
| 2019 | English Open |
| 2019 | Scottish Open |
| 2020 | European Masters |
| 2020 | Scottish Open |
| 2021 | World Snooker Championship |
| 2022 | English Open |
| 2023 | WST Classic |
| 2024 | British Open |
| 2025 | Welsh Open |
| 2025 | UK Championship |
Other Major Titles and Notable Wins
- The Masters (2008, 2010, 2013)
- Champion of Champions (2025)
- Championship League Snooker (2024, 2025)
- Wuxi Classic (2011)
- Six Red World Championship (2010)
- Minor ranking events (2010 PTC 2, 2011 Paul Hunter Classic, 2012 Paul Hunter Classic, 2013 FFB Open, 2013 Antwerp Open, 2014 Riga Open, 2016 Gdynia Open)
Mark Selby and the Triple Crown
Mark Selby has enjoyed sustained success across snooker’s three Triple Crown events, collecting 10 titles in total.
- World Championship: 4 titles (2014, 2016, 2017, 2021)
- UK Championship: 3 titles (2012, 2016, 2025)
- Masters: 3 titles (2008, 2010, 2013)
SHQ Star Rating: ★★★★★★★
SnookerHQ uses a seven-point star scale based on the scoring values of snooker balls, with a black (7) representing the highest career classification. Ratings are assigned using career achievements, longevity, and historical impact.
Mark Selby: ★★★★★★★
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Featured photo credit: WST