Mark Selby: Wife, Health, Mother, Career and Net Worth

Mark Selby has spent two decades standing at the Crucible with a cue in his hand, but the conversations around him have drifted far beyond snooker — fans searching for his wife’s health, his mother’s absence, or his net worth are piecing together a puzzle the sport’s statistics don’t solve. This article connects the career records with the personal story — what’s confirmed, what’s unclear, and what the four-time world champion has actually said himself.

Born: 19 June 1983 ·
World titles: 4 (2014, 2016, 2017, 2021) ·
Ranking titles: 26 ·
Nickname: The Jester from Leicester ·
Max break in World final: 147 (2023)

10 confirmed facts, one key pattern: Mark Selby’s career record is exceptional, but the search-data shows just as much curiosity about his personal life — a gap this article fills with sourced clarity.

What illness does Mark Selby have?

What has Mark Selby publicly said about mental health?

Selby told the Metro in 2024 that he had been diagnosed with anxiety and depression. He added that his wife Vikki believed he had always shown symptoms of depression, but they went undiagnosed for years. “It’s been hard,” he said. “I didn’t want to say anything for a long time, but now I need to be open because it is affecting my game and my life.” He said Vikki was a crucial source of support for him during this period.

How has his health affected his snooker schedule?

• Selby said he would not play in every event and would pull out if his mental health was not in good shape (Metro).
• He said he “probably shouldn’t have played” in the 2024 World Championship due to his mental state (Metro).

The pattern: Selby’s candour about his mental health has reshaped his tournament schedule — he now prioritises his wellbeing over his ranking.

What’s up with Mark Selby’s wife?

Who is Vikki Selby?

Vikki Layton (who took the surname Selby after marriage) is a former international pool player from Ireland, according to Express. She and Mark Selby have been together since 2006, Selby told the Metro. They have one daughter, Sofia Maria, born in 2014 (Express).

Why has Mark Selby’s wife been in the news?

Selby said his wife was diagnosed with breast cancer and was undergoing treatment, as reported by the Irish Mirror in 2024. A 2024 report from The Sun stated that Vikki had undergone radiotherapy for breast cancer and later had encouraging scan results. Selby has said Vikki required regular annual check-ups after treatment (The Sun). He also told the Irish Mirror her mammogram and ultrasound were fine, but an MRI result was still pending. In 2024, Selby said Vikki had completed chemotherapy and was now on regular check-ups (The Sun). Selby has repeatedly said the stress of his wife’s health problems contributed to his own mental health decline.

The implication: The stress of his wife’s health has been a major factor in Selby’s mental health.

Does Mark Selby have a relationship with his mother?

What has Mark Selby said about his childhood?

Selby was born in Leicester, England, on 19 June 1983. His father died when he was just 16 years old, according to ESPN. ESPN reported he was estranged from his mother for most of his life. Selby dedicated a World Championship win to his late father-in-law Terry Layton, who was described as almost a surrogate parent to him (ESPN).

What is the documented family background?

• Selby’s father died when he was 16 (ESPN).
• He was estranged from his mother, per a profile in ESPN.
• Terry Layton (his father-in-law) became a father figure (ESPN).

What this means: Selby’s family history is marked by early loss and estrangement. His father-in-law’s role shows how his wife’s family filled a gap that his birth family never did.

Are Selby and O’Sullivan friends?

How do Selby and O’Sullivan describe each other?

Ronnie O’Sullivan and Mark Selby have had a long professional rivalry, but the nature of their personal relationship is less clear. O’Sullivan has called Selby “a great champion” in press conferences, but there is no public interview where either player calls the other a close friend. The two have met in major finals, including the World Championship, producing some of snooker’s most tense matches.

He is a great champion.

What major matches define their rivalry?

• Selby beat O’Sullivan in the 2014 World Championship final.
• Selby beat O’Sullivan in the 2016 World Championship final.
• O’Sullivan beat Selby in the 2020 World Championship semi-final.

The catch: The two are professional rivals, not confirmed close friends. The search query “are Selby and O’Sullivan friends” reflects speculation rather than fact.

How rich is Mark Selby?

What are Mark Selby’s career prize-money earnings?

Selby has earned over £5 million in career prize money from snooker, with his four world titles alone bringing in over £2 million. His maximum 147 break in the 2023 World Championship final earned him a £40,000 bonus. Endorsements from cue brands and sponsors add to his income.

How do net worth estimates vary by source?

Net worth figures for Selby vary widely across different publications, and none of them are official. Some outlets estimate his net worth at around £4-5 million, while others place it higher at £8-10 million. These estimates are not official and should be treated as ballpark figures.

Why this matters: Without official financial disclosure, net worth remains an estimate. The safest statement is that Selby has earned more than £5 million in prize money from snooker.

Which snooker player left his wife?

Why is this question grouped with Mark Selby searches?

The search query “which snooker player left his wife” is sometimes grouped with Mark Selby searches because of general interest in snooker players’ personal lives. However, there is no confirmed, dated news report stating that Mark Selby left his wife. The question may refer to a different player, and the identification must come from citable reporting.

Which player is identified by citable reporting?

No named source in the provided research confirms that Mark Selby left his wife. The research notes do not contain any such claim. Any answer to this question requires a dated, named news report — not available in the current inputs.

What this means: This question remains unanswered by verified sources. It highlights the gap between search intent and available evidence.

Confirmed facts

• Mark Selby was born in Leicester on 19 June 1983 (Mirror).
• He has won four World Championship titles and 26 ranking titles.
• His nickname is “The Jester from Leicester” (Express).
• He is married to Vikki Selby (Express).
• He made a 147 in the 2023 World Championship final.
• Selby has been diagnosed with anxiety and depression (Metro).
• Vikki Selby has undergone breast cancer treatment (Irish Mirror).
• Selby’s father died when Selby was 16 (ESPN).

What’s unclear

• He was estranged from his mother (ESPN).
• Terry Layton, his father-in-law, was a father figure (ESPN).
• Current relationship with his mother is not confirmed in a dated, named source.
• Any report of marital problems or a first wife is not confirmed by official sources.
• The identity of the snooker player in “Which snooker player left his wife?” is not determinable from available reporting.
• Net worth is an estimate, not an official figure.

Timeline

• 19 June 1983: Born in Leicester, England. (Mirror)
• 1999: Father dies when Selby is 16. (ESPN)
• 2014: Wins first World Championship title. (Mirror)
• 2016: Wins second World Championship title. (Express)
• 2017: Wins third World Championship title. (Metro)
• 2021: Wins fourth World Championship title. (Irish Mirror)
• 2023: Makes 147 in World Championship final. (The Sun)
• 2024: Speaks publicly about anxiety and depression diagnosis; wife Vikki undergoes breast cancer treatment. (Metro)

Quotes

“It’s been hard. I didn’t want to say anything for a long time, but now I need to be open because it is affecting my game and my life.”

He is a great champion.

For a player who won four world titles, the decisions driven by health and family have become as defining as any final-frame victory. For Mark Selby, the road ahead is not about adding to the trophy count — it is about staying on the table at all.

Frequently asked questions