Mark Selby left scrambling after British Open final defeat
Mark Selby left a television presenter scrambling to apologise after delivering an X-rated assessment of his British Open final defeat to Jak Jones, reports BritPanorama.
The four-time world champion was visibly exhausted after Jones completed a 10-6 victory in Cheltenham on Sunday, securing the second ranking title of his career. Selby had arrived at the tournament in impressive form, following his triumph at the China Open three weeks earlier.
The 43-year-old remains in contention for the world No 1 position, battling with Zhao Xintong and Judd Trump. However, he admitted that his demanding schedule has left him completely drained. Speaking live on Channel 5 after the final, Selby stated, “I’ve had a great start to the season. I can’t complain. I’m just happy I’ve got a day off tomorrow because I feel absolutely f****d. I’ve got nothing left. I’m literally running on empty. I gave it everything I had but it wasn’t good enough.”
Selby’s candid admission garnered a positive response from spectators in the arena, even as the broadcaster promptly apologised for his language. His comments sparked a division among snooker supporters on social media, with some praising his honesty after a taxing tournament, while others felt he should have maintained composure.
Jones and Selby had been locked at 4-4 following the afternoon session, during which Selby produced a remarkable break of 139. Another century allowed Selby to draw level at 5-5 in the contest. However, Jones demonstrated resilience, extending his lead to 7-5.
Maintaining his composure, Jones ultimately completed the biggest victory of his career after Selby missed a green. The 33-year-old’s win earned him the Clive Everton Trophy and a £100,000 first prize, significantly improving his world ranking from No 31 to No 22. Furthermore, he has advanced to third on the one-year ranking list following a strong start to the season.
Selby, who collected £45,000 as the runner-up, moved up to second in the world rankings, trailing only Zhao. Despite expressing relief at having a day off from competition, Selby has a quick turnaround, scheduled to face Ricky Walden in the opening round of the English Open on Tuesday. Jones has since withdrawn from the event following his momentous success in Cheltenham.
In a sport where emotions often simmer beneath the surface, Selby’s outburst serves as a reminder of the strain these athletes endure—identifying the thin line between competition and candidness.
