'I am on the right track' - Mark Selby more positive as he battles mental health issues away from table

Mark Selby told Europsort following his win over Jamie Jones in the first round of the World Championship that he is on the right track mentally. The defending champion arrived at the Crucible with little expectation, after a poor season which has been dominated by his admission of his mental health issues. Ad/> Selby elected to withdraw from the Turkish Masters and Gibraltar Open, meaning his most-recent appearance was a first-round exit at the Welsh Open.

World ChampionshipSelby makes 100th World Championship century in securing victory over Jones8 HOURS AGO He started well in the morning and despite a wobble in the evening as Jones threatened a fightback, Selby got over the line in a match which saw him knock in three tons. Selby said he had done little practice in the lead up to the Crucible, but revealed in his post-match interview with Eurosport that he arrived in a positive frame of mind and praised the doctor he has been working with. “The last two tournaments I have not played as it has been difficult,” Selby told Eurosport following his 10-7 victory.

“I have been working with a doctor for a little while. «He told me to carry on playing as well as working with the help, which is what I chose to do. But I felt it was getting too much, too much pressure as well, and with me not being in the right mental state.

So we gave it a go, but it didn’t work so we decided to take a break. “The last six weeks I have done a lot more sessions with him and he has sort of got me a little bit better. I am on the right track.