Ronnie O'Sullivan, Judd Trump, Neil Robertson, Mark Selby: Time running out for 'big four' to turn season around

06.03.2023 - 13:35 eurosport.com

The Tour Championship at the end of this month is snooker’s most elite event, for just the eight best players of the season.

You would have got long odds when the campaign began that the game’s recognised 'big four' would all be missing from the field in Hull, but with one counting tournament to go, that is now a realistic prospect.

Ronnie O’Sullivan, Mark Selby, Neil Robertson and Judd Trump have established their dominance over snooker’s major events during the last decade.

Ad Of the last 16 World Championships dating back to 2007, only two have been won by someone else – Stuart Bingham in 2015 and Mark Williams in 2018.

Sporting Neil Robertson Mark Williams Mark Selby Ronnie Osullivan Stuart Bingham Judd Trump Britain Turkey county Williams

Shaun Murphy has revealed he was ready to quit playing snooker after struggling with loss of form, weight gain and mental health issues over the past few years. Murphy ended a three-year wait for a ranking title with a blistering performance at the Players Championship that culminated in a 10-4 triumph against Ali Carter in Wolverhampton earlier this month.

Mark Selby targets Ronnie O'Sullivan's World Championship title record as he urges snooker peace talks

Mark Selby believes he could yet reach the modern era record of seven world titles won by old rivals Ronnie O'Sullivan and Stephen Hendry at the Crucible Theatre after regaining top form in his own backyard. The rejuvenated 22-time ranking event winner claimed his second major title of the campaign with a 6-2 win over Pang Junxu on Wednesday night that saw a smiling 'Jester' compile three centuries in pocketing the £80,000 first prize in his home city of Leicester. Ad After lifting the English Open in December with an emotional 9-6 win over Luca Brecel in Brentwood, Selby feels he is playing his way into peak potting shape ahead of the Tour Championship in Hull next week (27 March-2 April) and next month's 47th World Championship in Sheffield (15 April-1 May).

Mark Selby whitewashes Ali Carter to reach WST Classic snooker final

Mark Selby buried Ali Carter under a barrage of breaks to reach the final of the WST Classic in Leicester with a 5-0 whitewash in a one-sided semi-final. The four-time world champion is chasing a first ranking title in his home city and produced a relentless display of scoring with knocks of 95, 138, 65 and 89 enough to book his spot in the inaugural Classic final at 7pm UK time on Wednesday night.

Mark Selby sets up Ali Carter semi-final at WST Classic snooker as Gary Wilson moves within one win of Tour Championship

Mark Selby maintained his push for a first ranking title in his home city of Leicester with a 4-2 win over John Higgins in the WST Classic quarter-finals. Selby raced 3-0 clear of his fellow four-time world champion with breaks of 99, 80 and 59 before Higgins responded with 136 and 81 to maintain his hopes with his opponent failing to register a point.

White lands shock win over Trump in WST Classic

Jimmy White recorded one of his best victories in the last decade after knocking out Judd Trump in third round of the WST Classic in Leicester.

Selby battles on as Murphy bows out in WST Classic

World number two Mark Selby reached the last 32 of the WST Classic with a narrow 4-3 win over Zhang Anda. The four-time world champion trailed 2-0 before rattling off three straight frames, including two 50 breaks, to go in front.