Mark Selby explains mental health struggles during World Championship glories: ‘I was in a bad place even when I won’

The mental health struggles that Mark Selby is dealing with now have been going on for years and he has even won a World Championship title while being in the middle of a ‘bad place’.

The world number one revealed in January that he is suffering with mental health problems, tweeting after a Masters defeat to Barry Hawkins: ‘Just want to apologise to all my friends and family for letting them down.

‘Mentally not in a good place at moment, had a relapse and trying to bottle it up and put a brave face on is not the way. I promise I will get help and become a better person #mentalhealth.’

Selby had spoken about struggling with depression in the past and has continued to be open about his problems as he gets help from a doctor to deal with them.

The 38-year-old is still playing snooker, winning his opening match at the Welsh Open on Monday against Chen Zifan, and says being at the table can help, but the game can also bring about the worst of times.

‘When I’m at the table and working out the breaks, you’re thinking of nothing else except the shots you are playing,’ Selby told Eurosport after beating Chen. ‘The hardest part for me is when I’m sitting in my chair and trying not to think about too many things.

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‘It’s not really snooker related, it’s a lot of things off the table.

‘2016 I was in a bad place even when I won the Worlds. Two tournament before I missed both of them and wasn’t going to play in the Worlds.

‘[Wife] Vicky says now, even when I picked the trophy up, she came to the table with