Mark Selby Open, losing 1–4. Selby won his first ranking title of the 2017/18 season by retaining the International Championship after surviving a fightback from Mark Allen, who trailed 3–8 and 7–9 in the final but the Englishman prevailed 10–7. As 2017 World Snooker Champion, Selby automatically qualified for the 2017 Champion of Champions. However, he lost in the quarter-finals to Luca Brecel by a scoreline of 4–6. At the 2017 Shanghai Masters, Selby crashed out to 2011 finalist Mark Williams in the quarter-finals 3–5. Selby's reign as the UK champion came to an end with a 3–6 defeat to Scott Donaldson
2018 World Snooker Championship They included Ronnie O'Sullivan (five titles: 2001, 2004, 2008, 2012–13), John Higgins (four titles: 1998, 2007, 2009, 2011), Mark Selby (three titles and two-time defending champion: 2014, 2016–17), Mark Williams (two titles: 2000 and 2003), Shaun Murphy (one title: 2005), Graeme Dott (one title: 2006), Neil Robertson (one title: 2010), and Stuart Bingham (one title: 2015). O'Sullivan was making his 26th consecutive appearance in the final stages of the World Championship since his debut in 1993. This is one short of Stephen Hendry's record of 27 consecutive appearances and four short of Steve Davis's record of 30 total appearances. Five