Title win ‘emotionless’ for haunted star Selby
CHAMPION’S CRUCIBLE DEMONS
MARK SELBY has revealed that his demons took away the joy of one of his greatest Crucible achievements.
The title-holder embarks on his quest for a fifth Betfred World Championship crown tomorrow against Welsh qualifier Jamie Jones.
But this year’s trip to the iconic theatre in Sheffield comes after Selby, 38, publicly spoke about a recurrence of past mental health problems.
The world No.2 from Leicester talked with searing honesty about the death of his beloved father David, when he was just 16.
That pain never went away and it emerged before and during Selby’s charge to a second world title in 2016.
That same night also saw his Leicester team clinch a shock Premier League title and he was pictured with the club’s flag as well as the trophy.
Happily, after taking some time away from the sport before this tournament, Selby seems fresh and relaxed after a two-week break in Dubai with his family.
But of that night six years ago, he said: “I wasn’t in a good way.
“I went to lift the trophy, [wife] Vikki and [daughter] Sofia came up to the table after and Vikki said to me it was like they weren’t even there, that I was just staring into space.
“When it should have been one of the best times in my life sharing it with Vikki and Sofia, I was emotionless, holding it up for appearances.”
When the same issues resurfaced this season, Selby realised something had to give – and speaking out as such a high-profile figure earned widespread praise from mental health charities.
He said: “I felt that I had to address it because I never really did it before and had bottled it up. Even though I spoke about it, it was never in depth and I had to get it all out.
“The doctor is sure that it has something to do with losing my dad. Because my mum walked out when I was young. When I lost him, it was my whole family.
“I had nobody, the only thing I had to turn to was snooker and that became like a comfort blanket. He believes that is why I have put so much into it and where I feel most comfortable.”