Mark Selby reveals the moment that he was told that he ‘had saved life’ from the anxious fan

Mark Selby was told that he “saved the life of a tortured woman” who decided not to kill himself after she heard the Snooker -Aas speaking publicly about his own demons for mental health care.

The four -time world champion41, has had many trials and trials of the Baze and takes prescribed medicines to combat his inner unrest.

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A year ago, Selby A low ebb reached and told Sunsport that his “head is like a circus”, while wife Vikki underwent radiotherapy for breast cancer.

Around the same time a good family friend died, at the age of 44, when cancer spread to other parts of her body.

In the past, Selby had decided to keep his problems private and not tell anyone outside of his close circle of family and friends.

But his decision a few years ago to make everything public – he issued an emotional statement on social media in 2022 about his misery – had helped him through the dark periods.

And last month, the day before the start of the World championshipThe Leicester -Nester was stopped by a fan, who bravely told him that his earlier comments about his problems had stopped her committing suicide.

The remarkable conversation happened when players walked past a green carpet on Good Friday outside the Melting pot Theater in Sheffield.

Selby explained: “I did a few signatures and photos. And this girl came to me, bless her.

“She must have only been in the mid -twenties. She said: ‘Mark, can I just say something to you? ‘

“Of course, I said. She replied: ‘I just want to say, I tried to take my own life a while ago and that you pronounce yourself, made me realize that there is more in life – and you can continue. ‘

“So that was quite emotional and moving, knowing that you helped someone – because you never know what is happening behind closed doors.

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“If you can help one person, for example, that girl makes it clear, I pronounce. It actually saved her life.

“There are many more people who go through it than you think. And I was one of them.

“I have set up a mask for so many years and people probably looked at me and thought I seemed to be the happiest person in the world.

“You turn on a front when you are there and then when you are behind it, you are another person.”

Selby ended Losing in the first round From the worlds to the hometown Rival Ben Woollaston last month, but as disappointed as he was at the time, he knows that it is just a game of snooker.

This week is Mental health consciousness week And Selby is a strong supporter of his sport that does more to help those who struggle of the balls.

Selby and seven -time world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan Had a fascinating chat live in January on TNT sports during the Masters.

During their on-Air speech, they discussed the prospect that a full-time psychologist Backstage was at the hand to listen to players who have to talk urgently.

The world No. 7 added: “It is definitely a good idea. It is as if we can let that happen.

“Who the man is, they have to be financed, so it will have to come from someone’s pocket.

In individual sports, if you are not in the right headroom, chances are that you will not win. We travel in and out of airports, to hotels … Snooker can be a lonely place.

“There will be many more players struggling than what we think. It is sometimes difficult to speak out.

“People feel that they can’t do that. Have that person in the corner, while it’s only 15-20 minutes, someone to talk to.

“Ronnie said that you might be able to book a lock, a bit like you can do with a practical table.

“In football you have the other 10 boys that take you with you. Even if you are abandoned, the team can still win.

“While in individual sports, if you are not in the right headroom, there is a good chance that you will not win.

“We travel here, there and everywhere, in and from airports, to hotels. If you are always alone, Snooker can be a lonely place.

“Especially if you go through a bad patch, where you don’t win games.

“You literally go there, be defeated, go home. It is mentally and physically heavy.”