| Venue of events: Crucible Theatre, Sheffield Dates: April 16-May 2 |
| Coverage: Watch live on BBC TV and Red Button with non-stop coverage on BBC iPlayer, the BBC Sport website and the BBC Sport app |
Mark Selby admits he considered not defending his world title due to his ongoing battle with mental health issues, saying winning in Sheffield would be his greatest achievement.
Selby, 38, begins his campaign for a fifth Crucible crown on Saturday against Welsh qualifier Jamie Jones.
in January, the Leicester player has spoken publicly about his mental health problems, saying he “needs help”.
However, he decided to compete after seeing “a little bit of improvement”.
Selby enters the 17-day tournament without playing a competitive match since March 2, when he was beaten in the last 64 of the Welsh Open by Liam Highfield, and subsequently withdrew from the Turkish Masters and the Gibraltar Open.
Instead of stepping up his preparations for the billiards main event, Selby vacationed in Dubai with his family.
Following a heavy loss to Barry Hawkins at the London Masters, Selby admitted a “huge weight” has been lifted after revealing his mental health issues.
“Until a few months ago, I was [considering not playing]”said world number two Selby.
“When I decided to withdraw from the other two tournaments, I didn’t withdraw from the World Cup because you didn’t need to tell them at that particular time.
“I wasn’t even thinking about playing in this, I thought I’d just give the next few weeks, see how that goes with the doctor and if I feel a little bit better I’ll come play because it would be a shame not to.” come here as defending champion and try to play.
“Even if you’re just out there and not playing, you can at least say you’ve been here and tried to defend it. I was thinking about it, but as the weeks have gone by I’ve seen a little bit of improvement in myself, so I’ll we’ll try.”
Selby has won a total of 20 ranking titles, and when asked if winning the title would be his greatest achievement, he replied: “Possibly yes, for sure, because the game is hard enough anyway.
“Being here for two weeks is mentally and physically exhausting. It’s going to be a challenge for me, but a challenge that I’m willing to try and take on and we’ll see what happens.”
Sometimes I wish I had done something else – O’Sullivan
Six-time champion Ronnie O’Sullivan returned to the top of the world rankings ahead of the tournament and is aiming to equal Stephen Hendry’s seven Crucible titles in Sheffield.
But the Rocket faces a tough first-round match against dangerous qualifier David Gilbert and feels sympathy for Selby, who has struggled with mental health.
O’Sullivan said: “Be careful if you want to pick up this game, because you’re getting carried away with a lot of disappointment, a lot of loneliness, a lot of dedication, a lot of playing in an environment where you don’t talk.” each other
“When you put all of that together, you have to ask yourself, is it really healthy? So before you undertake something like that, you have to have a plan to reserve your own sanity.
“Sometimes I wish I’d done something else, but no matter what you do, it’s going to be hard. If you want to be the best hairdresser in the world, I’m sure you’re going to have ups and downs, and you look at the rewards and ask yourself if it’s worth it.
“I would rather have gone through the stress and pain of being a golfer, a Formula 1 driver, a rally driver or a footballer in a team sport because nothing is easy, so if nothing is easy, at least think about where are the benefits?
“If I have to go through all this stress and pain, I can at least look back and say it softened the blow.”
I have no regrets this year – Robertson
Meanwhile, Australian Neil Robertson comes into the tournament as the favorite as the season’s best player, winning four titles, including the Masters, and being a beaten finalist in another.
But his World Championship record is surprisingly poor since lifting the trophy in 2010, reaching just one semi-final eight years ago.
“Terrible, it’s horrible. Shocking,” Robertson told BBC Sport.
“There have been a couple of unlucky quarter-finals where it has been very close and then there have been times where I have been in a good position and taken my foot off the gas, particularly in recent years.
“This season I’ve been good at keeping my foot on the ground and winning matches very well and also coming back in matches and winning.”
Robertson, who begins her title hunt against debutant Ashley Hugill, added: “I have to accept that I’m not the best safety player like John Higgins or Mark Selby, but my best strength is attacking play, getting the balls in the air free and making big jumps.
“The last few years have beaten me here, I’ve thought I wish I could play my game more. The worst thing in sports isn’t winning or losing, it’s the regrets. This year there won’t be any of that.” “
Analysis
1997 world champion Ken Doherty told PA:
“I think Neil Robertson is the favorite because of the way he plays, but he also came in with high expectations last year.
“You have to question him because he admitted that he doesn’t like it. I think it could be a great year for Ronnie O’Sullivan to win his seventh, and there is a case for both Chinese players (Yan Bingtao and Zhao Xintong) going very deep.
“I hope that Mark Selby can defend the trophy strongly. When Mark is playing at his best, he is very strong and he has shown himself to be very strong in the long format.”
“Mark has the game and the temperament to win as many titles as O’Sullivan, but this year has been very difficult for him and obviously his mental health issues have to take priority.”
