Four-time world champion Mark Selby has been eliminated from the World Snooker Championship in the first round by debutant Joe O’Connor. Selby trailed 7-2 heading into the second session and was unable to overcome the deficit, despite a late fightback. The defeat marks Selby’s second first-round exit at the Crucible, after his 10-3 loss to Barry Hawkins in 2014.
Hossein Vafaei’s criticism of the Crucible after his World Snooker Championship defeat has not been well received by fellow pros, with Shaun Murphy advising him to educate himself about the sport’s history and the significance of the venue.
Shaun Murphy, the 2005 world champion, has slammed Iranian player Hossein Vafaei for criticizing the iconic Crucible venue. Vafaei had complained about the facilities at the Sheffield venue, but Murphy defended the historic building, stating that it is “holy ground” for snooker players.
Snooker player Shaun Murphy has expressed his puzzlement over the lack of smiling among his fellow players, stating that he believes it’s “really weird” that they don’t show appreciation for the fans. Murphy, who recently advanced to the second round of the World Snooker Championship, emphasized the importance of acknowledging applause and interacting with spectators.
Shaun Murphy cruised into the second round of the World Snooker Championship with a 10-5 victory over Lyu Haotian. Murphy started strongly, extending his overnight 6-3 lead to 8-3, before Haotian won two of the next three frames. Murphy ultimately secured the victory with a break of 81, putting himself into the second round of the tournament for the first time since 2021. Stuart Bingham also made a strong start in his match against Gary Wilson, taking a 6-3 lead after the first session.
During the World Snooker Championship, Gary Wilson expressed his frustration by jokingly offering his cue to a spectator after a missed shot against Stuart Bingham. Wilson’s start to the match was disappointing, with Bingham building an early lead. Despite a brief rally, Wilson’s performance was marked by inconsistency, leading to his unusual gesture in the seventh frame. The session concluded with a 6-3 scoreline in Bingham’s favor, with the match set to resume later that evening.
