Super sub Higgins eliminates number one seed on Players Championship opening day

One of those is John Higgins who compiled a break of 133 en route to a 6-1 win over an out-of-sorts number one seed Neil Robertson.

Four-time world champion Higgins is only in this tournament due to fellow 'Class of 92' graduate Ronnie O'Sullivan opting out.

Following the completion of the World Grand Prix in Hong Kong earlier this month - the final event to count towards Players Championship qualification - Higgins was 17th on the one-year/seasonal ranking list, one below the cut-off. However, because O'Sullivan elected not to accept his invite, the Scot was first in-line for a call-up.

Breaks of 70 and 84 helped Higgins to a 3-0 lead before Robertson got on the board just before the mid-session interval, coming back from 50 points down in frame four.

But on resumption, 'The Wizard' fashioned his 133 before later wrapping up an unexpected straightforward victory. They'd previously met in five best of 11 frames professional matches before, and Robertson had taken them all.

Fifty-year-old Higgins moves into a record-extending 155th ranking event quarter-final of his illustrious career where he will face Chris Wakelin later this week.

In a clash of the number eight and nine seeds, Scottish Open champion Wakelin saw off Wuhan Open champion Xiao Guodong, 6-2, finishing with back-to-back tons of 104 and 101.

Wakelin continues his 100% winning streak over Xiao in ranking competition - he is now six from six.

Mark Selby carries on good form

Arguably the most in-form player in the world today, Mark Selby began his campaign at the Telford International Centre with a 6-3 win against Jack Lisowski.

Reigning UK Champion and number two seed Selby secured his third title of the season last week - no-one has more - when he completed an unprecedented three-peat at the Championship League Invitational.

The ten-time Triple Crown event winner established a 3-0 lead - crafting an 84 in the third frame - before Northern Ireland Open champion Lisowski got a foothold in the tie, totting up a trio of half-centuries as he took three of the next four frames to close the gap to one.

However, Selby fashioned a run a 136 to steady the ship and reach the hill before getting the job done in the next.

The result sets up a quarter-final date with Mark Allen; the Northern Irishman - winner of this title here two years ago - posted efforts of 51, 78, 73 and 93 as he eliminated International Champion Wu Yize, 6-3.

The remaining opening round fixtures will be completed on Wednesday. The programme includes world number one Judd Trump and reigning world champion Zhao Xintong, who is fresh from winning the World Grand Prix. For a preview of the action, visit here.

To view the full draw, results, schedule, and other information from the 2026 Players Championship, visit here.