Mark Selby — the hottest player on the planet right now — overcame his Players Championship hoodoo with a commanding 6–3 victory over Northern Ireland Open champion Jack Lisowski in Telford.
Mark Selby didn’t just win at the Players Championship — he _burned_ the hoodoo. For years, the Telford event had eluded him despite being one of snooker’s richest and most prestigious tournaments. But on Tuesday night, under the bright lights of the Venue Cymru, Selby dismantled Northern Ireland Open champion Jack Lisowski 6–3 to finally stamp his name on the trophy and prove he’s the hottest player on the planet right now.
The match started like a chess game — slow, tense, tactical. Selby took the first two frames with crisp potting and solid safety play, then Lisowski clawed back a frame with a 63 break to trail 1–3. But Selby wasn’t rattled. He regained control, extending his lead to 4–1 before Lisowski launched a mini-comeback with breaks of 56 and 70 to pull it back to 4–3. That’s when Selby dropped the hammer — a majestic total clearance of 136 in frame eight, followed by a clinical close in frame nine to seal the win.
Lisowski came in with momentum. He’d beaten Selby in their last two meetings — including a dramatic 6–4 victory in the first round of the 2024 UK Championship — and the head‑to‑head record stood deadlocked at 9–9. But Selby flipped the script. “It is tough playing Jack,” Selby admitted after the match. “He’s always attacking — if you leave a red out, he’ll go for it. But today I kept my composure and punished his mistakes.”
This wasn’t just another win — it was Selby’s _third_ title of the season. He’d already captured the Championship League and defended his UK Championship crown in December, beating Judd Trump in the final. Now, with the Players Championship in the bag, Selby leads the season’s trophy tally — no other player has matched his haul.
More importantly, this victory silenced critics who suggested Selby’s best days were behind him. At 39, he’s showing the kind of consistency and mental toughness that only a few legends possess. His form has been relentless: steady century breaks, razor‑sharp tactical play, and an uncanny ability to close out matches when it matters most.
Selby’s triumph also set up a tantalising quarter‑final clash with two‑time Players champion Mark Allen, who earlier beat China’s Wu Yize 6–3. Allen knows Selby well — they’ve battled in some epic encounters over the years — so expect fireworks.
So why is Selby the hottest player right now? Because he’s winning where it counts — big events, against top rivals, under pressure. He’s not just collecting titles; he’s rewriting the narrative around his career. And with three trophies already, plus a fresh Players Championship crown, Selby is riding a wave no one can ignore.
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