When the draw for this year’s World Championships was released, snooker fans noted two friends turned foes were on a collision course.
To become an eight-time world champion, snooker superstar Ronnie O’Sullivan may come face-to-face with Mark Selby.
O’Sullivan will begin his quest for an unprecedented eight world title against Ali CarterGetty But it’s against Selby where things could get spicyGettyThe pair are in the top half of the draw for the World Championships as O’Sullivan is seeded fifth and Selby is seeded fourth.
Should the pair get through their respective first and second round contests, they will face off in the quarter-finals.
It promises to be a salivating affair should it come to fruition given what transpired in their last encounter at the Crucible.
That was in August 2020 as they faced off in the semi-final.
O’Sullivan prevailed 17-16, but his victory was marred by a mid-match act that Selby branded as ‘disrespectful’.
In the 30th frame, Selby thought he snookered O’Sullivan when he gave the seven-time world champion a tough shot on the pink.
O’Sullivan failed at his first attempt to escape, which gave Selby six points.
Selby once again trapped O’Sullivan in the same situation, only for the latter to smack the cue ball with serious force to get out of being snookered.
Speaking after the match, Selby voiced his frustration at how O’Sullivan applied himself during the contest.
“Yeah, just felt like it was a bit disrespectful to me and the game,” Selby said.
GettyMark Selby was left angered by an act from O’Sullivan during their clash in 2020[/caption] O’Sullivan isn’t one to hide his frustrations at the tableGetty“If you were playing anybody else, there’s not many players who will just get down and hit them 100 miles an hour.
“When you put them in the snooker sometimes, they’ll try and work it out, play it safe or try and get you in trouble back.
“But it just felt he was doing that throughout the match. Just thought it was a little bit disrespectful to me and the game.”
In response, O’Sullivan understood Selby’s frustrations but did not want to give away cheap points during the contest.
“I’m not good at getting out of snookers and I don’t want to give 40 points away,” O’Sullivan.
“And I’m never going to be good at getting out of snookers. Ray Reordan tried to teach me for a while and I got OK at it, but it takes too much time practising getting out of snookers. I’d rather concentrate on the break-building.
O’Sullivan defended his actions as he went on to win the 2020 World ChampionshipGetty“I get what Mark is saying and I hope he doesn’t feel that way because we get on really well.
“But listen, you’ve just got to play to your strengths and getting out of snookers is not my strength.”
However, it seems the pair have since fallen out given Selby’s comments during a question-and-answer session after an exhibition event in Shipley last August.
Selby was asked which of his fellow snooker pros he disliked the most and he wasted little time in naming O’Sullivan.
“Listen, I’ve got so much respect for him as a sportsman and as a player, he is absolutely amazing,” Selby said.
“But as a person, I’ve got no time for him at all.”
Should a grudge match between the pair eventuate, it is O’Sullivan who has the edge in their head-to-head record.
Of the 35 matches they have played against one another, O’Sullivan has won 21 times while Selby has tasted victory on 13 occasions, with one encounter ending in a draw.
The Rocket has confirmed his participation in the World Snooker Championship after dropping out of numerous events in 2025.
However, O’Sullivan admitted he could yet withdraw before his first-round clash with Ali Carter on Tuesday.
“I’m not playing until Tuesday. So if I have a meltdown, who knows? I might still b****y withdraw,” O’Sullivan said.
“I hope I don’t,” he added.
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