The modest English city of Leicester, population 337,000, is on top of the world today after Leicester City was officially crowned Premier League champions and local boy Mark Selby won the Snooker World Championships final.
Tottenham’s 2-2 draw with Chelsea this morning was enough to leave the Foxes seven points clear at the top of the EPL ladder and out of reach with two games to play – completing one of the biggest shocks ever seen in a major sporting competition. This time last year Leicester City was still in a desperate fight just to avoid relegation and they entered the 2015/16 season rated 5000/1 outsiders to win the League. Now they are global superstars.
It was fitting that barely 15 minutes after their success was confirmed, Selby – a passionate Leicester City fan in his own right – completed his own victory by downing China’s Ding Junhui 18-14 at The Crucible.
Having held a three-frame lead overnight, Selby withstood plenty of pressure from the resurgent Ding to finish strongly and win his second world title. Ironically, his first came two years ago – the same year Leicester City won the Championship to gain promotion to the EPL!
This is a day bathed in blue.
