Mark Selby answers your questions

Eurosport - Mon, 26 Jan 16:45:00 2009

World number four Mark Selby answers the questions set by you, the readers, last week - to ask Mark a question just leave it in the comment section at the bottom of the article.

SNOOKER 2007-2008 Welsh Open Mark Selby O'Sullivan R. - Selby M. - 0

Rabselay asks: How did you start playing snooker? And what would you do if you weren't playing for a living?

Mark Selby: I was nine years old when I started playing English eight-ball pool - my dad played a lot, which got me in to it - and then quickly ended up having a go on a snooker table at the club. Willie Thorne then spotted me playing soon after and thought I had some potential, so he used to let me come down and practise for free... and it all went from there.

To be honest I've been doing it for so long that I've no idea what I'd be doing instead - probably still trying to make it as a snooker player!

Rabselay (again!) asks: What's your favourite band? And do you prefer the Beatles or the Rolling Stones?

MS: Being a Leicester lad I have to say Kasabian or one of the boys will kill me! No, I don't really have a single favourite band - I like all sorts of different music. I am a Bon Jovi fan though. And I'd go for the Beatles.

Guy C has a technical question: I've noticed that just before you shoot your entire upper torso moves left a little bit and comes back, then you shoot. Is this something you have noticed or are working on?

MS: Yes, it is something I've noticed but it's not something that's affected me as yet. As long as my results keep going in the right direction I'm not going to worry about it - it's just a natural part of my action.

Bobby B wants to know: What do you do when there are no tournaments in the off season?

MS: Not a lot! It's actually really nice being able to relax, go on holiday with my girlfriend and that sort of thing. I've just passed my driving test as well so that's been taking up some of my time - I've got a Mercedes.

I've also started getting in to other sports, particularly golf. I'm not at a very good standard yet but I'm enjoying it - in the past I've been invited to loads of golf days and have always had to say no, so it'll be good to start playing those.

Badis asks: What's your opinion about seven-times world champion Stephen Hendry? Do you think he will come back? Could he still win a ranking tournament in the future, or is it all over for him?

MS: Oh, it's definitely not over. The class is still there - he's shown it this season in patches, and you can just see that he still has the hunger. He might be struggling through a bad patch at the moment, but once he's past it he'll be back to his best form.

If you want to ask Mark a question, simply leave it in the comment box below -and he'll do his best to answer it next week.

Eurosport

Comment 1 - 14 of 14

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  1. Hey Mark!
    Thanks very much for answering our questions and also for the gerat masters final you showed. I would have loved to see you win. But now that Ronnie took your Masters title, it's your turn to take his World Championship title!
    I'm living in Germany and unfortunately, we have no ranking tournament here. Nevertheless I have the great desire to see you live. So I wonder if there is any tournament in which you are involved in Germany? If you decide to visit us, please promise me, that I am the first to know about!

    Wish you good luck for the rest of the season!

    From Sbone, on Sat 24 Jan 9:00PM
  2. Sorry about the strange questin I'm going to ask, but how do you exactly spell your girlfriend's name? Because I've seen it written a million different ways.
    Good luck on the Welsh Open!!!!

    From eminem1girl, on Sat 24 Jan 7:18PM
  3. hi mark i am a snooker fan and i play snooker. can you give me some tips on how to increase my break. pls

    From bjornborg147, on Sat 24 Jan 2:43PM
  4. How did you feel when in the world campionship 2007 you get to the final but lost it?and what is your relatinship with John Higgins and Ronnie O'Sullivan?

    From MarcoB, on Sat 24 Jan 1:18PM
  5. What can you say about sofas on tournaments in which you relax when not currently at the table?
    The question is a bit stupid, but it's also interesting!

    From Tomislav, on Fri 23 Jan 9:02PM
  6. Hi Mark I'm a snooker fan and I'll be happy if you answer to my question
    Which player had more affect on your playing style or who was your childhood idol?
    second question is in your openion who revelotionized game snooker?
    I recorded your match versus J.Higgins 2007 world championships and still watch it sometimes -I like watching your break building but I'd like if you were playing faster- what would happen if you met maguire(nearly was in the final of 2007 world championships) in the final?

    From Morteza F, on Thu 22 Jan 9:32PM
  7. Hello,everyone!
    It's quite amazing to have a chance asking questions to Mark Selby, who's my favourite player in snooker indeed!!
    Of course, i wish, you were winner of Masters... But maybe next time (and i'm hopin' this NEXT TIME will be on nearest tournament and definetely on World Champs!)

    And in the end - my question!))
    Does Ronnie O'Sullivan get you under pressure in the game?
    I mean the last your collisions were defeatable for you((
    I remember the match when the deciding frame was won by Ronnie who'd done 147 (((
    Maybe is "syndrome of O'Sullivan" on you? Or Ronnie is quite usual player (of course, he's not usual as well))) as many other ones? Do you prepare for the game VS Ronnie in specific way which is not quite the same as for other players or not?

    From reiter_maniac, on Thu 22 Jan 8:58PM
  8. Hi Mark!

    I have been a big snooker fan for many years now and i watch tournaments on Eurosport as much as i can. My favourite players are Ronnie , Hendry and Jimmy (old school , i know...) but younger guys i think promising guys are you and Maguire. Maybe also Allen has potential to come multiple tournament winner. But thats about that , i have a question to you: what you guys do in tournaments while you'r not playing? Are you mostly by your self (or your buddys or girlfriends etc) or do you hang out with other players too and go out to have a beer and talk about how games have gone and talkin trash about players you dont like ;)

    -GM77-

    From samu.parilo, on Thu 22 Jan 8:20PM
  9. My girlfriend thought (and still sometimes thinks) that snooker is the most boring thing in the world, but I got her hooked on it a little so she watches with me when I watch. She really wanted you to win in the Masters final and was quite sad that you lost.. Do you feel encouraged by this tournament or depressed in some way? Did you have any expectations of yourself before it?
    Good luck next time!

    From batzk22, on Thu 22 Jan 8:06PM
  10. Firstly, thank you for the anwser. Yap, I still believe that Stephen will comeback:)
    Secondly, I want to ask you, when did you had your first tournament? What impressions you left from it to yourself?

    From badis, on Thu 22 Jan 7:34PM
  11. I know it is not on topic but I could not think of a better place to say this in. Stephen Hendry is playing well on practice table but feels uncomfortable in matches. I may be wrong, but i think Eurosport snooker commentators talked about this and they suggested that everybody and Stephen himself are applying too much pressure on Stephen. I think it would be possible to fix this. For example, when he is introduced into the venue, all his past achievements should not be mentioned, only the recent ones should. For example: ''He reached the semi-finals in the WC last april/may and in the recent Bahrain Championship.'' Maybe that would put less pressure on him. Maybe he feels like he HAS to perform well because he is 7 time champ. We should try to sort of erase the achievements. For example, if hits a bad run of form, it is a tragedy. ''How could the 7 time champ lose?'' people say. That just puts more pressure on him. For example, Mark King has not been playing very well in this season either, but people are not talking about that all the time. The more we are talking about it , the harder it will be for him to start playing well again. I'm sorry if some finds this offensive but that is what I think. All I want to see is Hendry at his best.
    P.S. I am sorry Mr. Selby for writing this here but I am desperate.
    P.P.S. Good luck to you Mark in the Welsh open!

    From reinisdonins, on Thu 22 Jan 6:26PM
  12. Do you think it were good if women come to the main tour?

    Is there a differnce between male players and female players?!

    From Name, on Thu 22 Jan 5:55PM
  13. dannysbac, you are an imbecile.

    From webbski, on Thu 22 Jan 5:20PM
  14. MERK BYE WHY AS THAR SO MANY ASLYAM SEKARS AN LASTAR

    From dannysbac, on Thu 22 Jan 5:06PM
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