Times Sport editor John Hutchins offers his personal opinion on the events, topics and personalities in the world of sport.

I was taken by the comment at the weekend made by Mark Selby after during the World Snooker Championships, held at the appropriately named Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.

The reigning world champion was talking after his close contest with China’s Deng Junhui in the semi-final, in which he scraped through 17-15 in an absorbing contest.

‘It was a great, great game to be involved in.  When I had my chance I took a little bit longer on my shots because I knew if I didn’t win it at this visit it could have got away from me.

‘Every shot felt like a pint of blood in that last frame.  The pressure out there is immense.’

I can only imagine the sporting pressure he was under and will, of course, never be in his position to experience it – my personal best ever break was a 23, so not likely to worry Messieurs Selby, Higgins, Junhui, O’Sullivan and Fu.

Which brings me to ‘dream’ – or ‘fantasise’ in my case — what it must be like to be on 99 runs playing for England in an Ashes test, take a 90th penalty in a FA Cup final, serve at match point for a Wimbledon title or sink a ten feet putt to win the British Open or the American Masters’ golf championship.

As I said, alas, I can only dream.

What goes through a player’s mind on these occasions? Chances are they won’t be thinking of ‘what’s for tea or if I can pot (serve, kick) this and win I could be home in time to watch Coronation Street!

Seriously, these professional sportsmen do dream of these moments and have spent their ‘working’ life to fight for the right to be there in the first place.  Even so, such ultimate pressures on the cusp of greatness separate the true champions from the worthy contender.

Finally, well done to Mark Selby on Monday who pipped John Higgins 18-15 in the final to retain his world championship. No pressure!