‘Lump on Selby’

We are not far away from the players being welcomed into the Crucible arena now - and O’Sullivan believes punters should be backing Selby in this semi-final.

He said: “I’d say, anyone out there, go lump on Selby, because if I beat him…I don’t expect to beat him because he is the ultimate test.

“I can’t see anyone that’s left in the tournament being able to beat him over that distance. That’s just my personal opinion, not me trying to take the pressure off.

“I’ll be out there trying me hardest, I don’t need to take the pressure off myself, I’ve nothing to prove.

“As an insider, for me, I can’t see how anyone can beat him. Maybe if Judd [Trump] had got through he might have been able to give him a game, maybe [John] Higgins, maybe not.”