Chris Wakelin spoke very extremely of Mark Selby after knocking out the defending Champion of Champions on the opening day of the 2026 version in Leicester.
Wakelin reached the semi-finals of the invitational match for the primary time in his profession with a hard-fought 6-2 victory over final 12 months’s winner.
It wasn’t an affair of the very best high quality, however the 34 year-old received’t be too bothered about that as he stayed within the hunt for the £150,000 prime prize.
Wakelin, who earned his invitation via capturing the Scottish Open title on the finish of final 12 months, took benefit of a below-par show from his esteemed opponent.
The Englishman was fast to credit score former apply companion Selby with serving to him develop into a extra established competitor on the tour in latest seasons, although.
Wakelin even went so far as to say that he thinks his countryman must be rated among the many finest there’s ever been.
“I really feel actually drained,” Wakelin instructed ITV Sport. “Mark and I practiced collectively for seven or eight years. I understand how good he’s.”
“He will get this stigma on a regular basis about being destructive, however he is likely one of the finest scorers there’s ever been. To the purist on the market, Mark Selby most likely is the best of all time.
“To have him as good friend, apply companion, a mentor in years passed by, I’m actually grateful for on a regular basis that he gave me again in these occasions after I was struggling.
“However yeah, I’m delighted to get the victory. I don’t suppose you’ll be able to put something all the way down to Mark tonight.
“It was about me being not excellent however fortunate. I modified again to my outdated cue 4 days in the past, as a result of mine acquired warped on the way in which out to China.
“Attempting to regulate to that [was hard]. I’m simply guessing on lots of security pictures, lengthy pots, and significantly after I’m having to time the ball.
“The white is simply not going the place I anticipate it to. I believe 90% of the time the place I’ve hit one not fairly proper, I’ve acquired fortunate.
“I might see Mark shaking his head and getting annoyed in direction of the top. I can’t say I blame him.”
Selby and Wakelin, who had respectively overwhelmed Alfie Burden and Barry Hawkins earlier in spherical one, couldn’t discover a lot scoring rhythm all through their showdown.
Certainly, the pair mixed to compile simply three half-century breaks with Wakelin bookending the competition with modest runs of 54 and 56.
The world quantity 12 will await the winner of Group 4, which takes place on day two of the 2026 Champion of Champions on Tuesday.
Two-time former champion Neil Robertson will probably be a robust favorite in opposition to Panchaya Channoi – the Thai making her debut within the competitors after successful the Ladies’s World Championship.
Additionally on this part is Judd Trump, who’s rated by most on-line bookies because the pre-tournament favorite within the outright betting market.
Trump has a tricky preliminary opponent to beat within the type of Jak Jones, twice a rating occasion champion this season already.
Featured photograph credit score: WST
