World Snooker Championship final: 'You deserve it mate' - Sporting Mark Selby hails champion Luca Brecel

A sporting Mark Selby was the first to congratulate Luca Brecel on his World Snooker Championship victory, telling the Belgian that he “deserved it”.

Brecel held off a fightback from the four-time winner to become the first world champion from mainland Europe with a thrilling 18-15 victory.

The 28-year-old – who is the youngest Crucible winner since Shaun Murphy in 2005 – saw his lead cut to 16-15 after losing five consecutive frames before composing himself to get over the line.

There were emotional scenes at the game’s conclusion with Brecel – who embraced his parents and girlfriend amid the celebrations - finding it difficult to hold back the tears, and a gracious Selby was quick to pay tribute to his Belgian opponent.

“Firstly, congratulations to Luca,” Selby began.

“He’s a great, great talent, a great lad, obviously, a lovely family and I wish him all the best and enjoy the year. You deserve it mate, you played fantastic.”

Selby illuminated a thrilling final with a maximum on Sunday night as he joined Kyren Wilson, Neil Robertson, John Higgins, Stephen Hendry, Ali Carter, Ronnie O’Sullivan, Mark Williams, Jimmy White and Cliff Thorburn as the nine other players in the illustrious list.

Remarkably, Selby is the second player to make a 147 at this year’s tournament at the Crucible after Kyren Wilson made one in the first round.

The pair will share the £40,000 prize for a maximum break, plus the £15,000 for the highest break of the tournament.

Selby touched on what the achievement meant to him in his post-match speech but was quick to divert the attention back to Brecel.

“It's great to make a 147 at the Crucible. Something obviously I was wanting to do,” he said.

“Never thought I'd do it in a final, you know, it’s an amazing achievement. The atmosphere last night when I made it was something I’ll remember for the rest of my life.

“But you know, it's not about me today. It's about Luca, he played fantastic over the two days.”

Selby continued: “I mean, every time he got a chance, he looked like he was going to win the frame in one visit and yeah, you know, I kept breaking off, leaving him the shots to nothing and apart from when I got back to 16-15, I think that's probably the first time he missed it.

“Like I say, every time he potted the ball I fancied him to clear the frame up in one visit. It was tough, you know, but I battled and gave it everything, got it back to 16-15.

“And who knows? If I get it back to 16 it could be a different scoreline. But, you know, every credit to Luca, he deserves it.”

Selby revealed last year that he had been “suffering for a few years” with depression and “bottling everything up” – but felt at the time as though “half the battle is won” after having spoken out about what he was going through.

Asked how it felt to be back at the Crucible, competing for the game’s biggest prize, Selby said: “Oh, amazing. You know, like I say 12 months ago, it was nice to come back and just play and just try and enjoy it.

“But from where I've been to where I am now, you know … I've enjoyed the last two weeks. Yeah, it didn't finish how I wanted it to but, you know, with things going on off the table as well, not just with me, but with Vikki as well, obviously you realise that health is more important.

“So, at the end of day, it's a game but a game that you want to win. But if you don’t it’s not the end of the world.”

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