Snooker star Mark Selby is set to compete for his third UK Championship title this Sunday, but his journey to the final in York is a story of profound personal resilience, guided by the strength of his wife, Vikki Layton.
Wife's Diagnosis and Mental Health Impact
The four-time world champion has openly discussed how his wife's health crisis deeply affected him. Vikki Layton, a former Ireland international pool player, was diagnosed with breast cancer shortly after December 2022. Selby confessed that the news shattered him, exacerbating his existing mental health struggles.
"She’s been stronger than me throughout it, for sure," Selby admitted in a past interview. "When it was first announced, I was completely blown apart. Obviously with how my mental health was before anyway, that multiplied it." He noted that Vikki became his primary support, a role reversal he found both surprising and humbling.
Finding Focus and Freedom on the Table
Remarkably, just months after Vikki's diagnosis, Selby reached the 2023 World Snooker Championship final. He revealed that his overwhelming concern for his wife ironically freed him from competitive pressure. While Vikki underwent radiotherapy, she insisted he continue playing.
"I was playing and thinking, ‘If I get beat, so what?’" Selby explained. His focus was on being with her, but her encouragement to play created a unique mindset. "It takes the pressure off a bit, because you’re playing without a care in the world on the table, then there you are in the final."
The Career-Saving Conversation
Vikki's influence proved decisive again last year. After a disappointing first-round exit at the World Championship, Selby contemplated retirement. It was his wife who intervened with pivotal advice.
"I had a sit down with Vikki and she said, ‘Look, I think you should carry on playing because you probably have got a bit more to give to the game,’" Selby recalled. She advised him to be selective with tournaments and reduce self-imposed pressure. He decided to follow her guidance.
The results speak for themselves. Since that conversation, Selby's career has been revitalised. His trophy haul includes:
- The 2024 British Open title.
- The 2025 Welsh Open.
- A runner-up finish at the Tour Championship.
- Victory at the Champion of Champions last month, where he defeated Judd Trump.
Now, the 42-year-old 'Jester from Leicester' is through to the UK Championship final at the York Barbican after victories over Lei Peifan, Zhou Yuelong, Barry Hawkins, and a 6-3 semi-final win against Shaun Murphy. He faces defending champion Judd Trump for the £250,000 top prize.
Through diagnosis, treatment, and career doubts, the partnership with his wife since 2011 has been Selby's anchor. As he prepares for Sunday's final, it is with the knowledge that his presence there is a testament to her strength and wisdom both on and off the snooker table.
