WORLD number one Mark Selby is aiming to reclaim the Betway UK Snooker Championship which starts next week in York.

Selby, who beat Shaun Murphy in the final at the Barbican four years ago, is enjoying the best year of his career having won the World Championship in Sheffield and over £600,000 in prize money.

Speaking ahead of the tournament which starts on Tuesday, Selby said: "I don’t doubt myself anymore because I have achieved everything I wanted to in snooker. Even if I never won another tournament I could still put my cue away and be happy.

"York is a great city and a great venue," he added. "It’s a huge tournament and I couldn’t be going into it in much better form."

Selby has reached the last four of the UK Championship in three of the last four years - losing to Neil Robertson in the 2013 final and the 2015 semifinal.

"Last year I wasn’t feeling good about my game going into it and ended up losing 6-0 to Neil," he recalled. "This time I am full of confidence and I feel I have a chance of winning it.

"I have won a couple of tournaments and consistently been at the business end of tournaments. It has been a great start. Hopefully I can keep it going throughout the season."

Selby's first round opponent at the Barbican will be Devon's Andy Hicks, 43, who was relegated from the main tour three years ago and now competes as an amateur.

"Andy has been a great player over the years and is probably good enough to be on the tour," insisted Selby. "I remember, last year, he played Barry Hawkins in the first round of the UK and was unlucky to lose 6-5.

"I know what I’m up against," he added. "But, in a way, I prefer that to playing someone who I don’t know much about."

The total prize money on offer at this month's Betway UK Championship is £850,000 with the winner pocketing £170,000.

But Selby insists: "I’ve never once played snooker for the money. When I was a kid I played because I loved the game and wanted to win tournaments, and I’ve never really changed.

"Of course, it helps that we make a great living out of snooker but I just concentrate on winning matches. If you do that then the money comes with it."

Selby, who lost to Mark Allen in last week's Champion of Champions, withdrew from this week’s Coral Northern Ireland Open to boost his preparations for York.

"We’ve had a lot of tournaments recently and Belfast came in between the Champion of Champions and the UK Championship," he said. " I just felt I needed one week’s break to spend at home with the family and get the right preparation for York. Once I lost in the English Open and my chance of the £1million bonus was gone, I decided to pull out."

Tickets are still available for the Betway UK Championship in York which runs from November 22 to December 4.

With eight tables in the arena in the early stages, supporters can watch several matches for the price of a single ticket. Ticket prices start at just £7. For details call 0844 854 2757 or visit www.worldsnooker.com/tickets