Mark Selby closing in on historic milestone as Shenzhen Open last 16 line-up discovered

Reigning UK Champion Selby is arguably the best player in the world right now having won the China Open and been runner-up at the British Open in recent weeks. And now, the four-time World Champion is on course for another very deep run in the Far East.

After going one frame down, Selby compiled total clearances of 132, 135 and 138 during a 5-1 win over Jackson Page on Wednesday at the Bao’an Sports Centre in China to advance in the £850,000 world ranking event.

Next up for Selby will be a last 16 meeting with Stephen Maguire who made a 119 during a 5-1 victory over David Grace earlier in the day.

The hat-trick of tons he fashioned against Page pushes Selby up to 980 career century breaks - just 20 away from the incredible 1,000 landmark.

Only four players in top-flight snooker history have made more centuries than Selby, and they have all reached a four-figure total.

Ronnie O’Sullivan founded the 1,000 tons club in 2019. John Higgins joined him in September 2024, and just days later, Judd Trump did likewise.

The fourth and latest member to this exclusive centuries club was Neil Robertson in 2025. With the fantastic form that Selby is currently in, it probably won’t be long until he achieves the high-scoring feat as well.

Selby on the importance of scoring and nearing 1,000th career century

Speaking to the World Snooker Tour after his win, Selby admitted to feeling positive about the current state of his game, and how important scoring heavy is these days on the circuit.

“It’s amazing what confidence does” said the 43-year-old. “I’m confident with my game at the moment. Know that I’m playing some good stuff, so when I get my chances, I’m confident that I’m going to take them and today was one of them days.

“The standard of snooker nowadays is if you’re not scoring when you get a chance you can’t be winning tournaments and competing at the back end. So, I seem to be doing that at the moment and long may it continue.”

Selby is also aware that he is approaching that magical 1,000 centuries marker, but doesn’t want ton number 1,000 to be made at a behind-closed-doors event, like what happened with Robertson last season.

Having not been too sure which number he was exactly on now, Selby said: “I do need to look because I don't want to be making my 1000th century behind-closed-doors, that’s for sure.”

World Champion Wu Yize progresses in Shenzhen

Having survived a tense deciding frame finish in his opening match, reigning World Champion Wu Yize recovered from 2-0 down to defeat Chinese compatriot Xu Si, 5-3.

In an extraordinary opening mini-session, Xu made breaks of 136 and 105 to take control before Wu levelled courtesy of runs of 132 and 126. On resumption, Wu went in front with the help of an 87, but Xu restored parity after a 77 in frame six.

However, 22-year-old Wu crafted a 66 in the seventh, and then later completed the job without the bother of another decider.

Wu will face a resurgent Ricky Walden on Thursday after the three-time ranking event winner ousted newly-minted English Open champion Ali Carter, 5-4.

Elsewhere on day three in Shenzhen, Shaun Murphy constructed a brace of tons - 132 and 112 - and further runs of 76, 64 and 78 in an impressive 5-1 win over Hossein Vafaei.

Fellow top 16 stars Kyren Wilson (5-2 v David Gilbert) and Chris Wakelin (5-0 v Stuart Bingham) are also through, but current Welsh Open champion Barry Hawkins was sent packing by Elliot Slessor who scored a 5-2 success.

Si Jiahui - who recently slipped outside of snooker’s elite ranking bracket - is trying to get back into the top 16. A date at the business end of this tournament will help towards that, and that’s still on as he registered runs of 127 and 119 in a 5-3 victory over Gary Wilson.

Michael Holt whitewashed reigning World Open title holder Thepchaiya Un-Nooh, 5-0, and Yuan Sijun defeated Fan Zhengyi, 5-1.

To view the full draw, results, schedule, and other information from the 2026 Shenzhen Open snooker, visit our tournament information centre here.