Selby optimistic over defence of UK Championship despite return of favourite O'Sullivan

PUBLISHED: 13:51 EST, 25 November 2013 | UPDATED: 13:51 EST, 25 November 2013

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Ronnie O’Sullivan may well be the favourite for the UK Championship which starts on Tuesday, but Mark Selby fancies his chances of retaining his title.

Sullivan is back on the professional tour after a self-imposed break and is arguably looking better than ever.

The Essex cueman, who turns 38 during the tournament at York’s Barbican Centre, won his fifth world title in May and on Sunday beat Stuart Bingham to take the inaugural Champion of Champions Event.

Confident: Mark Selby fancies his chances of retaining his title when the UK Championship begins next Tuesday

Few will be backing against O’Sullivan - who starts out against Rhys Clark later in the week - but Selby hopes he can have his say in a tournament which sees the world’s top 128 players start at the same round in pursuit of a £125,000 prize.

Selby toppled O’Sullivan in the final of the Antwerp Open last weekend, further evidence of O’Sullivan’s dislike of playing the Leicester man.

He described Selby as ‘the torturer’ in his recent autobiography and, although the defending champion admits he has not been in the best form, he has taken confidence from his recent win over O’Sullivan.

Challenge: O'Sullivan describes Selby, who he lost to at the Antwerp Open last weekend, as 'the torturer'

'I feel in great shape with the defence of my UK Championship title just around the corner, and that’s in stark contrast to how I’ve been for most of this season,' he wrote on his official blog.

'I’ve been stuck in a bit of a slump, anyone can tell you that judging by my recent results. But winning the Antwerp Open and getting to the semi-finals of the Champion of Champions has definitely lifted my confidence.

'I’ve not been playing diabolical snooker this season, I’ve just not been winning. And the more you don’t win, the more it plays on your mind, certainly in my case anyway.

'And the results have picked up. I played well in my first two matches in Coventry, following on nicely from Antwerp where I also produced some good snooker, especially in the final against Ronnie O’Sullivan.

'It’s always nice to beat Ronnie, but what pleased me most was the way I beat him. I won it playing good, attacking snooker - I beat him at his own game. And if you can’t get confidence from that, what can you get confidence from?'

Proud moment: Selby holds the trophy after beating Shaun Murphy in the final of the 2012 UK Championships

Selby’s first-round opponent is 15-year-old amateur Shane Castle.

Few problems can be expected, but Selby is not taking anything for granted.

'A lot of people are raving about him already as one to watch. I’ve never seen him play, so I’ll be going into the match blind, but I’ll be confident and in the right frame of mind,' he added.

'Having had this prestigious title for the last 12 months, I certainly won’t be giving it up easily.'

Tuesday’s action sees, amongst others, match-ups between Anthony Hamilton and Sean O’Sullivan, Jamie Jones and Gary Wilson and Mark King and Ross Muir.