article_snippet.sent: The world champion will have to negotiate both if The world champion is to make history in Sheffield.
article_snippet.sent: It is one of the quirks of this venue that no first-time winner has retained The world champion title the next year.
article_snippet.sent: Mark Selby poses with the trophy after winning the World Snooker Championship at the Crucible in 2014 .
article_snippet.sent: That appears to be changing with Mark Selby recent appearance in the China Open semi-final, where Mark Selby lost 6-3 to Mark Selby.
article_snippet.sent: No 1 appear slim in the extreme, but six-time runner up Jimmy White told Sportsmail:
article_snippet.sent: Jimmy White has tipped Mark Selby as one of Jimmy White
article_snippet.sent: Referring to the hoodoo surrounding first-time winners, Mark Selby said: ‘It is a curse and It is going to be difficult
article_snippet.sent: It shows how difficult the tournament is to win.
article_snippet.sent: Just to win it once as I did last year was a fantastic achievement for me but to win it twice and break a curse would be outstanding.
article_snippet.sent: n’t defending champion
highlights_snippet.sent: Mark Selby is the defending champion but no first-time winner has retained Mark Selby .
  