Jet-set life suits Selby
Mark Selby cannot wait for start of the new snooker season, which will signal a new globe-trotting era for the top stars on the baize.
Last Updated: 07/06/11 9:48am
Mark Selby cannot wait for start of the new snooker season, which will signal a new globe-trotting era for the top stars on the baize.
Barry Hearn's takeover of the sport has brought a host of new events onto the calendar which stretch right across the globe.
Germany, Brazil and now even as far as Australia will stage ranking events this coming season, and Selby is relishing the prospect of competing for titles all around the world.
The 2010/11 campaign starts with an opening Players Tour Championship event later in June, before July explodes into life with the Wuxi Classic in China followed by a new Snooker World Cup in Thailand and the Australian Goldfields Open.
Two-time Masters champion Selby will be among the front-runners for all these new events, and he is delighted at the expansion in the season.
Titles
"Last season I got to two ranking finals but didn't win either of them which was disappointing. I was happy with the consistency I showed over the season, but now it's all about winning more titles," said Selby.
"I didn't think we'd be going to Australia in the near future," he said. "It shows the extent to which Barry Hearn has turned the sport around. There are more tournaments now and prize money has virtually doubled.
"I've never been to Australia before and I'm not sure how much of it I'll get to see, as I'll be there to work and hopefully do well in the tournament. I'm just pleased that we are moving the game into new territories.
"Last season I played over 100 matches, and looking at the calendar, I could play even more this time. Depending on how I do in the main ranking events, I may miss the odd PTC event just to make sure I am not burned out for the big events."
The new World Cup runs from July 11-17 at the World Trade Centre in Bangkok, featuring 20 two-man teams.
With selection based on positions in the rankings, world number three Selby will partner world number six Ali Carter in the England team.
World Cup
"Most of the big sports have a World Cup event and it's great for snooker to have different tournaments with different formats," Selby added.
"It will be a different kind of pressure to an individual event because you're playing for your partner as well. I've played in tournaments in Thailand before and I've no doubt this one will create a really good atmosphere."
Selby has just come back from a two-week holiday in Mexico, where he married girlfriend Vikki, but is already preparing to pack his bags again.
"I've only just got married and now I'm going to be away for a few weeks in July, but I don't think Vikki will be getting the divorce papers out yet!" joked Selby.
"She understands what I've got to do for my career. It's going to be a busy season and there will be a lot of travelling, but it's great for the game and wherever I have to go to play in tournaments, I'll go there."
