World Snooker Championship 2024: Crucible debutant Joe O'Connor eliminates Mark Selby

Joe O’Connor produced the biggest upset of the 2024 World Snooker Championship, so far, as he defeated four-time winner Mark Selby 10-6 in the opening round at the Crucible Theatre.

In an all-Leicester derby, world number 30 O’Connor - the only debutant in this year’s draw - collects his first ever professional victory against Selby at his eighth attempt, and it arrived on the biggest stage of all.

During their opening session on Sunday morning in Sheffield, former Scottish Open runner-up O’Connor led twice early on but the duo were all square at 2-2 heading into their mid-session interval. However, on resumption, the underdog impressed as he grew stronger and capitalised on an out of sorts Selby, making breaks of 122, 67, 101, 74 and 61 whilst winning five consecutive frames and taking firm control at 7-2 up.

Known for his epic Crucible recoveries, Selby faced a mini mountain to climb, explained by the fact that only three players had ever come back from 7-2 deficits here in the first round. However, the 40-year-old issued a statement of intent in the first frame with a 112 clearance to reduce the gap to four.

O’Connor reopened a five-frame buffer with frame 11, but a positive Selby took the next two - aided by an effort of 91 in frame 13 - to go just three behind at 8-5 as they went for their final mid-session break.

A cool effort of 57 helped the underdog settle some nerves as he claimed the fourteenth frame to go on the hill at 9-5 up, although 22-time ranking event winner Selby won a protracted safety battle in the next and, along with a contribution of 67, kept his feint tournament hopes alive.

Selby accrued a small advantage in frame 16, but when he went in-off potting a thin red from distance, 28-year-old O’Connor had a chance to get back into the frame and perhaps even take it all in one visit. He gained the lead but missed a difficult last red down the cushion with the rest.

Following a tense exchange, the Crucible newbie slotted home the final red with a fantastic long pot into the yellow pocket and kept his calm clearing the remaining balls he required for a very memorable victory.

It is the first time since 2013 that Selby has lost consecutive matches at the venue, and even then he was struggling with an injury. It also means that both of last year’s finalists exit the tournament in the opening round - the first time that has happened since 2016.

The result ends a difficult campaign for Selby who has had to deal with issues off the baize. Having cut a dejected figure after his opening round loss at the recent Tour Championship, it remains to be seen if we will see him again at the start of the new season.

Next for O’Connor is a last 16 date with either Kyren Wilson or Dominic Dale later this week.