Four-time world snooker champion Mark Selby has opened up about his wife Vikki's battle with breast cancer and the recent death of a close friend. The 40-year-old described the past few weeks as 'quite tough' as he balances his career with personal struggles.
Selby revealed that Vikki, whom he calls his 'rock', was diagnosed with breast cancer and is currently undergoing treatment. The couple also suffered the loss of their close friend Nina Webb, aged 44, who died from cancer. Nina was the wife of Selby's best mate Dave and leaves behind a 12-year-old daughter.
Speaking to Metro, Selby said: 'I've had a lot going on off the table, a few lapses from what I mentioned before with my mental health. We had some bad news just over a week ago. One of my best mates, Dave, his wife sadly passed away with cancer at 44. She's best mate to Vikki, so it's been quite tough the last two weeks.'
Despite the challenges, Selby reported positive news on Vikki's health. He said: 'She's good, she had a mammogram and ultrasound a few weeks ago and that all looked good. They gave her an MRI as well and we're waiting on the results... Fingers crossed that comes back ok and then that's another year until we get a scan again.'
Selby credited Vikki for being the stronger one throughout the ordeal, noting that she has been supporting him despite her own health battle. The couple met in 2006, married in 2011, and have a daughter Sofia, born in 2014. Selby's own childhood was marked by his mother's abandonment and his father's death from cancer when he was 16.
