Mark Selby finds peace as snooker star opens up on ‘suffering’ with depression | Other | Sport

Following a turbulent period marked by personal health struggles and family tragedy, snooker ace Mark Selby has reset his sights on Masters success with a rejuvenated mindset.

The Leicester-born star courageously detailed his fight with depression in 2022, which was followed by his wife Vikki’s diagnosis of breast cancer, coinciding with the loss of a close family friend to the same disease.

Selby spoke about his years-long battle with mental health issues, acknowledging that he had previously kept his struggles to himself. After a cathartic public acknowledgment post-Masters, he extolled his wife as “his rock” for her unwavering support during his most challenging periods.

With retirement a serious consideration last year, Selby, a four-time world champion, expressed to SportsBoom that experience had granted him equilibrium and a fresh outlook on what’s truly valuable, stating: “I feel as though, before, everything for me was always snooker. It was my life. If I lost, I’d be really on a downer and just practice and practice. I’d go to the next comp expecting to do well and if I don’t I’d be down and frustrated.”

He went on to say: “But with everything I’ve gone through over the past few years I’ve got a different perspective on it and I’ve realised there’s more to life than snooker. I go out there giving it my best and try to enjoy it if I can and if I win great, if I don’t then other things are more important.”

Losing still stings for Selby, a fact that reassures him his competitive spark remains.

“It doesn’t make losing any easier from a competitive side of it though. If I was to lose and laugh it off then I’d know the hunger wasn’t there anymore and it doesn’t mean anything. It’s still got to hurt a little bit. I’ve always said that when the time comes where I don’t think losing matters anymore that would mean I was on the spiral the other way where you don’t want it.”

Selby has found a better balance in handling setbacks, though. “It still hurts to a degree, but I try not to beat myself up too much. It hurts as much as it should do, whereas before it hurt and then I’d be hurting myself by beating myself up. I’m trying not to do that anymore. The balance is better for me on that front at the moment.”

Selby is now targeting a fourth Masters title, having previously won the competition in 2008, 2010, and 2013. Mark Selby is one of the most successful players in the history of the sport, with nine major titles to his name, putting him alongside John Higgins in joint fourth place on the all-time list.

He is hopeful of ending a decade-long wait for a semi-final appearance at the Ally Pally and has his sights set on winning the competition for the fourth time in his career, following his British Open victory which ended an 18-month title drought for him.

Selby remains upbeat about his chances at the upcoming championship despite a challenging draw.

He added: “I don’t go there with any bad memories,”

Selby expressed his preference for this format: “That’s going to happen on the tiered structure. I keep saying I prefer that structure even though you get tougher draws.

“If you win the tournament, you can hold the trophy at the end and you know you really deserve it. It’s the same at the Masters. Any match is capable of being a final.”

He also finds satisfaction in his past achievements, adding: “For me, not having a great record there in the last few years makes it even more pleasurable knowing I got to five finals in seven years from when I won it. It makes it even more incredible when you look back at that now.”