Mark Selby, a four-time world snooker champion, has experienced a setback in his title defense after losing 10-6 to Joe O’Connor in the opening round of the World Snooker Championship at the Crucible Theatre. This unexpected defeat has raised doubts about Selby’s current form and future prospects in the tournament.
After a disappointing first day that saw Selby trailing 7-2 to the world number 30, he rallied back on Monday afternoon, winning four of the opening six frames with impressive breaks of 112 and 91. However, the 40-year-old ultimately fell short, leaving too much ground to cover.
O’Connor, known for his remarkable resilience, displayed nerves of steel in the tense 16th frame, which initially threatened to end in a stalemate. He ultimately emerged victorious, securing one of the most significant wins of his career. This result marks the third notable exit from the tournament so far, following the departures of defending champion Luca Brecel and veteran Ali Carter.
The tournament’s absence of a clear frontrunner has opened up opportunities for several players. World number eight Shaun Murphy currently stands to benefit the most, potentially facing David Gilbert, Robert Milkins, Pang Junxu, or Stephen Maguire in the semi-finals.
The bottom half of the draw has also seen an unexpected upset, with world number 44 Jak Jones eliminating 11th seed Zhang Anda. Jones will now face a formidable challenge against either former world champion Mark Williams or last year’s semi-finalist Si Jiahui.
