- Mark Selby is one of the most decorated snooker players of his generation.
- But Selby has struggled recently and crashed out of the World Championships.
- The four-time world champion admitted that he is considering his future in the sport
Snooker star Mark Selby has admitted he is considering his future in the sport after a disastrous performance at the World Championships.
Selby, 40, is one of the most decorated players of his generation, being ranked number one in the world on multiple occasions throughout his career, while ranking eighth on the all-time tournament winners list. time.
However, he has struggled of late and crashed out of the Crucible in the first round on Monday after a 10-6 loss to tournament debutant and qualifier Joe O’Connor.
It could have been worse for four-time world champions Selby, who gained some respectability in defeat after being 7-2 down at one point, but it was still a tough day for ‘The Jester of Leicester’.
And Selby, who also questioned his future in snooker after losing to Gary Wilson in early April, revealed he is considering retirement after another difficult encounter.
Mark Selby revealed he could retire after terrible performance at World Snooker Championship
Selby lost 10-6 to tournament debutant Joe O’Connor in the first round at the Crucible.
Selby called his performance “pathetic” and said he is not “happy” playing snooker at the moment.
“I’ll take a lot of time to think about it over the summer,” he said, after reaching just one qualifying final this season.
‘Outside of billiards I am happy, but when I come to billiards it is the opposite. It was pathetic from start to finish.
Speaking later to the BBC, Selby revealed that he would be thinking carefully about what’s next for him.
He added: ‘I will sit down with (my wife) Vicky and see what the options are.
“Obviously it will be a big decision, but if I continue playing I need help, probably a little more on the mental side, to go out and enjoy the game.”
‘That’s all I want to do, go out and enjoy it and, for me, it’s always kind 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 he has started to struggle.
The defeat marked the first time Selby had exited the World Snooker Championship in the first round since 2018, as he struggled mightily against his unannounced opponent.
Meanwhile, O’Connor, who is the only debutant in the tournament, will face either Kyren Wilson or Dominic Dale in the second round.