Exclusive: Mark Selby on Finding Balance, Battling Demons, and Targeting Masters Glory

Family man Mark Selby has revealed he has struck the perfect balance with snooker after years of “beating himself up”.

The four-time world champion has bravely battled a number of personal issues over the past few years and threatened to quit the game at last season's World Championship due to a lack of enjoyment. 

Selby candidly opened up about his depression at the Masters in 2022 and he suffered an understandably dip when wife Vikki was battling breast cancer, which coincided with a close family friend tragically passing away from the illness almost a year ago.

Snooker is all Selby has ever known since walking into Willie Thorne's club many moons ago, but the health and happiness of himself and his family are now his number one priority.

The Leicester potter told SportsBoom.com: “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.”

LOSING HURTS THE RIGHT AMOUNT NOW

Despite a different perspective on the sport, Selby still has the hunger to win snooker’s top titles.

Only Ronnie O’Sullivan (23), Stephen Hendry (18) and Steve Davis (16) have won more major trophies than Selby’s nine — joint with John Higgins. 

“It doesn’t make losing any easier from a competitive side of it,” added Selby.

“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.”

A NEW YEAR AND MORE SILVERWARE FOR SELBY?

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 Monday night.

“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 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.”