Mark Selby admits World Snooker Championships shock defeat has him considering retirement

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Four-time world champion Mark Selby is left to contemplate his future following a shock first-round defeat in the World Snooker Championships.Qualifier Joe O'Connor, who has long admired Selby and supported him through three of his world title triumphs, clinched a 10-6 victory after resuming with a commanding 7-2 lead from Sunday's impressive opening session.

Selby, who has faced challenges both personally and professionally this season and hinted at retirement after his Tour Championship defeat to Gary Wilson, appeared out of sorts and below par throughout the match.Despite his struggles, Selby tapped into his renowned resilience, kicking off with a break of 112 and adding a 91 to close the gap to 8-5 at the mid-session interval.

O'Connor, this year's sole newcomer to the tournament, remained composed as he edged within 56 points of victory in the subsequent frame, inching closer to a remarkable win.

Selby fought back with a break of 67 and looked set to tighten the scoreline further when he led by 39 points in the following frame, but a steely red down the rail from O'Connor all but sealed Selby's fate.This upset marks the first time since 2018 that Selby has been ousted in the opening round, leading 'The Jester from Leicester' to acknowledge that he will seriously consider his career path over the summer.