Four-time world snooker champion Mark Selby admits he could RETIRE after crashing out at the first-round stage at the Crucible… as he brands his 10-6 defeat by a debutant as ‘PATHETIC’
Snooker star Mark Selby has admitted he is considering his future in the sport after a dire showing at the World Championship.
Selby, 40, is one of the most decorated players of his generation, sitting at world No 1 on multiple occasions in his career, while he is eighth on the all-time list of ranking tournament winners.
However, he has struggled in recent times and crashed out at the Crucible in the first round on Monday after a 10-6 defeat by tournament debutant and qualifier Joe O’Connor.
It could have been worse from four-time world champion Selby, who gained some respectability in the loss after being 7-2 down at one point, but it was still a tough day for ‘The Jester from Leicester’.
And Selby – who also questioned his future in snooker after losing to Gary Wilson earlier in April – revealed he is considering retirement following another difficult encounter.
Mark Selby revealed he may retire after a dire showing at at the Snooker World Championship
Selby lost to 10-6 to tournament debutant Joe O’Connor in the first round at the Crucible
Selby labelled his display as ‘pathetic’ and said he isn’t ‘happy’ when playing snooker right now
‘I will take a long time to think about it over the summer,’ he said, after reaching just one ranking final this season.
‘Away from snooker I’m happy, then when I come to snooker it’s the opposite. It was pathetic from start to finish.’
Speaking later to the BBC, Selby revealed he would think hard about what is next for him.
He added: ‘I’ll sit down with (my wife) Vicky and see what the options are.
‘Obviously it will be a big decision but if I do carry on playing I need help, probably on the mental side of it a little bit more just to go out there and enjoy the game.
‘That’s all I want to do, go out there and enjoy it and, for me, it’s always sort of life or death.
‘I’ve always been that kind of character, putting too much pressure on myself and trying too hard.’
Selby (pictured in 2017) is one of the biggest stars of his generation, but has started to struggle
The defeat marked the first time that Selby has exited the World Snooker Championships in the first round since 2018 as he badly struggled against his unheralded opponent.
Meanwhile, O’Connor – who is the only debutant at the tournament – will face either Kyren Wilson or Dominic Dale in round two.
- For more: Elrisala website and for social networking, you can follow us on Facebook
- Source of information and images “dailymail“
