Berliner Tageblatt - Selby considers retirement after 'pathetic' world championship exit

NYSE - LSE
RYCEF -1.29% 19.31 $
GSK -1.74% 48.505 $
CMSC -1.27% 19.505 $
RIO 0.37% 94.51 $
NGG 1.54% 76.11 $
RELX -0.12% 33.2 $
BCE 1.25% 20.395 $
BP 1.66% 44.255 $
VOD -0.77% 16.205 $
RBGPF -3.08% 65 $
BTI -0.73% 54.45 $
JRI -0.05% 10.765 $
AZN -1.24% 162.2 $
BCC -0.86% 75.325 $
CMSD -1.35% 19.665 $
Selby considers retirement after 'pathetic' world championship exit
Selby considers retirement after 'pathetic' world championship exit / Photo: © AFP

Selby considers retirement after 'pathetic' world championship exit

Four-time snooker world champion Mark Selby is considering retirement after crashing out at the first round of the world championship 10-6 to qualifier Joe O'Connor on Monday.

Text size:

Defeat capped a dismal season for Selby, who has slipped to fifth in the world rankings.

"I will take a long time to think about it over the summer," said the 40-year-old.

"Away from snooker I'm happy, then when I come to snooker it's the opposite. It was pathetic from start to finish."

O'Connor, who is the only debutant in the field at The Crucible amassed a 7-2 lead during the first session on Sunday and held on for the biggest win of his career despite a rally from one of his snooker heroes.

"I'll sit down with (my wife) Vicky and see what the options are," added Selby.

"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."

Y.Bouchard--BTB