Mark Selby set to return after rare trophyless campaign at Championship League snooker in Leicester

ByEurosport

Updated 07/07/2022 at 10:18 GMT

Mark Selby failed to win a ranking event last season for the first time since 2010/11 as he fought depression off the table, but the four-time world champion will aim to make up for lost time when he begins his 2022/23 campaign in Leicester. Selby starts his season in his home city at the Championship League on Thursday. Stream top snooker action live and on-demand on discovery+

Mark Selby is set to make his return to competitive action at the Championship League after his 13-10 defeat to Yan Bingtao in the last 16 of the World Championship in April.

The 20-time ranking event winner begins his campaign in his home city of Leicester when he faces James Cahill, Zhang Jiankang and Ben Woollaston in Group 3 at the Morningside Arena (12pm BST) on Thursday.

Selby admitted he was consulting medical help in his ongoing battle with depression last season as he failed to win a ranking event for the first time since the 2010/11 campaign.

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“When I’m at the table and working out the breaks, you’re thinking of nothing else except the shots you are playing," world No. 3 Selby told Eurosport in March.

"The hardest part for me is when I’m sitting in my chair and trying not to think about too many things.

"It’s not really snooker related, it’s just a lot of things off the table. 2016 I was in a bad place, even when I won the Worlds."

‘I felt I couldn’t carry on bottling it up’ – Selby opens up on mental health

Welsh Open champion Joe Perry faces Andrew Higginson, Lukas Kleckers and Elliot Slessor in Group 23.

The latest winners at the season's first ranking event saw Yuan Sijun and Lyu Haotian progress to the last-32 group stage.

World No. 80 Yuan coasted through without dropping a frame in 3-0 wins against Lei Peifan, Ken Doherty and Barry Hawkins in Group 9 on Wednesday.

Lyu Haotian was Group 30 winner on seven points as he finished with a 135 break against Graeme Dott in a 3-0 win. He earlier drew 2-2 with Fraser Patrick before toppling Hayden Pinhey 3-1.

• 'It felt good to be out there' – O'Sullivan hits first century of season in stunning return
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Latest Championship League group winners

• Group 24: Robert Milkins (Eng)
• Group 13: Aaron Hill (Ire)
• Group 4: Zhao Xintong (Chn)
• Group 31: Anthony Hamilton (Eng)
• Group 6: Michael Judge (Ire)
• Group 26: Chris Wakelin (Eng)
• Group 10: Luca Brecel (Bel)
• Group 29: Lu Ning (Chn)
• Group 1: Ronnie O'Sullivan (Eng)
• Group 27: Jamie Jones (Wal)
• Group 15: Ricky Walden (Eng)
• Group 32: Xiao Guodong (Chn)
• Group 9: Yuan Sijun (Chn)
• Group 30: Lyu Haotian (Chn)

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