World Snooker Championship 2024: Mark Selby five frames behind in round one

Mark Selby has a huge task on his hands if he is to remain in the 2024 World Snooker Championship past the opening round as he trails Crucible debutant Joe O’Connor 7-2 after their first session.

The four-time champion will need to call upon his famous battling qualities on snooker’s biggest stage if he is to mount a comeback when the pair return to the arena on Monday afternoon for the conclusion of the tie.

An all-Leicester derby between friends and practice partners, O’Connor led twice early on but the opening four frames were shared. However, after the mid-session interval, the form and performances of both players went in opposite directions.

Former Scottish Open finalist O’Connor - the only main draw debutant in this year’s field - registered runs of 122, 67, 101 and 74 to move 6-2 ahead.

Selby had an opening in the final frame, but when he missed a relatively routine red, his 28-year-old opponent capitalised with a 61 to open up an unlikely five-frame gap and go just three frames away from the last 16.

World number 30 O’Connor has never defeated Selby in professional competition in seven attempts. The duo faced each other in the grand final of the Championship League Invitational only a few weeks ago; Selby won 3-1 on that occasion for his only title of the season, so far.