Selby regrets playing in the World Championship, but acknowledges that it was a learning experience.

Mark Selby has been focusing on taking care of himself and his wellbeing lately. He has been more mindful of the tournaments he participates in, especially when it comes to managing his mental health. In fact, he now believes that he should have withdrawn from the World Championship this year as he was going through a difficult time.

Unfortunately, the four-time world champion was knocked out in the first round by newcomer Joe O'Connor and it was evident that his game was not up to par. Even before, during, and after the match in Sheffield, Selby was struggling to find his footing. In fact, he even mentioned the possibility of retirement at the Tour Championship in April and then again after his loss to O'Connor.

But despite these challenges, the 41-year-old has decided to continue playing this season. However, he has made a promise to himself and his wife Vicky to prioritize his mental health above all else. After a heart-to-heart discussion with his wife over the summer, Selby has realized that playing through the low points is no longer the best approach for him.

"I've always had my ups and downs," Selby shared with Metro. "Last year, I played in a lot of tournaments even when I probably shouldn't have, including the World Championship. Looking back, I probably shouldn't have gone, and Vicky agrees. If I'm going to compete, I want to have a fighting chance at winning. But deep down, I knew that wasn't the case. But that's in the past now, so I'm looking forward to the future."

So far this season, Selby has already made it to the semi-finals at the Shanghai Masters. But he has no plans of overexerting himself. "I won't be playing in every single tournament," he explained. "Vicky and I have agreed that I'll only play in a few, and if I'm not feeling well, I won't push myself to go. It's important to have a clear head when competing, and when your mind isn't in the right place, you have no chance. That's why I shouldn't have played in the Worlds. But I've learned from that experience."

Selby's schedule has been quite packed this season, with appearances at the Shanghai Masters, Wuhan Open qualifiers, and the Xi'an Grand Prix. He is also set to compete in the upcoming Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters. When asked if this busy schedule was a sign of improvement, Selby replied, "I don't know, mate. I'm just taking it one day at a time and trying to enjoy the game a bit more. If I never win anything again, I'm content with what I've achieved in my career. But if I do, then that's great."

This year, Selby tried to make the most out of his trip to Sheffield, but he was still struggling mentally. "It's been a little better," he shared. "I know I'll always have my ups and downs, but I never know when they'll come. I can feel it coming on at times, but I never know what will trigger it."

According to Selby, his wife has been a great source of support throughout his journey. "We've been together since 2006, and Vicky has told me that she thinks I've always had these struggles, even before I was diagnosed. She said that I've always had my ups and downs, especially during the season, even when things were going well."

"It wasn't until I sought help and was diagnosed with anxiety and depression that I realized how long I've been dealing with these issues," Selby added. "I don't know how long it was there before I got help."

Despite his plans to compete in Riyadh next week, Selby is not making any concrete commitments. "I have a flight booked," he said. "So as of now, I'm planning to go. But I don't want to make any promises just yet. I'll wait and see how I feel when the time comes."

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