Mark Selby is targeting Masters glory with a fresh perspective after a host of health battles.
The snooker star bravely opened up on his battle with depression in 2022 before his wife, Vikki, was diagnosed with breast cancer a year later – at a time that coincided with a close family friend tragically passing away from the same illness. He revealed that he had been “suffering for a few years” with depression and was “bottling everything up” prior to speaking publicly after the Masters, and hailed Vikki as “his rock” for helping him through the darkest times.
Now Selby – who says that he considered retirement last year – believes he’s achieved the perfect balance in his career, with the health scares giving the four time world champion a new perspective on the sport that has been his life for almost three decades. Speaking to SportsBoom he said: “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.
“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.
“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.
“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.”
Only Ronnie O’Sullivan (23), Stephen Hendry (18) and Steve Davis (16) have won more major trophies than Selby’s nine — joint with Wizard of Wishaw John Higgins. The Jester from Leicester heads into 2025 with renewed confidence after ending an uncharacteristic 18-month title drought at the British Open earlier this season.
Now he is targeting a famous fourth Masters title, which would end an Ally Pally hoodoo — where he has failed to reach the semi-finals in a decade. Wembley Arena was a home away from home for Selby, winning the illustrious invitational event on his first visit in 2008. He went on to reach four finals in his first six appearances and then lost to rival Ronnie O’Sullivan in the final of the inaugural Ally Pally hosting in 2014.
“I don’t go there with any bad memories,” insisted Selby, who kicks off his title quest against Ali Carter on January 13. I just think it’s so difficult to win. It’s the same with the UK now especially now it’s got back to the tiered structure. You look at Judd (Trump) he went and won the tournament, but his draw was absolutely brutal. He had Neil Robertson first game and then John Higgins.
“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.
“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.”