Mark Selby scratches first round itch to advance at World Snooker Championship

Four-time world champion Selby reaches the last 16 of snooker’s flagship event for the first time 2023 when he appeared in his sixth world final.

In each of the past two years Selby has been eliminated in the opening round, and on paper this year, he faced a very stern assignment against qualifier Jak Jones who was runner-up here to Kyren Wilson in 2024. But as it transpired, the former world number one won with plenty of change to spare.

Breaks of 67 and 50 helped number seven seed Selby establish a 4-0 mid-session interval lead. On resumption, he took the next two frames to swell his advantage to six.

World number 19 Jones - who was defending £200,000 from his ranking total for making the final 24 months ago - got on the scoreboard by taking a close seventh frame, although a 78 from Selby made it 7-1.

The qualifier gave himself some hope with a morale-boosting 90 to end the morning session, but when they returned a few hours’ later in the evening, Selby took all three frames to advance.

World number 13 Chris Wakelin moved into the last 16 at the Crucible for the second consecutive year after a 10-6 win over youngster Liam Pullen.

Scottish Open champion Wakelin - who is competing as a Crucible seed for the first time in his career - held a 5-4 overnight advantage, but 20-year-old debutant Pullen restored parity at 5-5 as he crafted a 97 in the first frame of the day.

Wakelin, though, took control with efforts of 72, 60 and 62 before reaching the hill first at 9-5 up.

Pullen - who had to navigate all four qualifying rounds at the English Institute of Sport earlier this month to put his name in the main draw - prolonged his stay with his maiden Crucible century of 121, but Wakelin got the job done in the next after a contribution of 62.

Elsewhere on day five of the televised stages in Sheffield, Ronnie O’Sullivan coasted into the second round of the World Snooker Championship for a record-extending 30th time in his career as he wrapped up a comprehensive 10-2 win over He Guoqiang.

Hossein Vafaei pieced together a five-frame sequence to transform his contest with number 15 seed Si Jiahui.

Semi-finalist here three years ago, China’s Si began the tie in style with a 100 in the first frame before going on to lead 3-1 at the mid-session interval.

However, after the break, Iran’s number one Vafaei racked up runs of 81, 61, 60 and 105 - leaving his peer pointless across the final three frames - to construct a 6-3 overnight lead.

The final round one match to get underway, Neil Robertson holds a slender 5-4 lead over Pang Junxu. China’s Pang finished the evening’s play with a 122.

There was an unusual incident in frame two as Robertson conceded the frame prematurely when he was 47 points behind with three reds left (51 remaining).

It appeared that Robertson miscalculated the scores, thinking he was 57 points behind instead, therefore requiring penalty points. But he was made aware of his error when he was warned by referee Terry Camilieri as per the rules, and is in line to receive a £250 fine for an early concession.

To view the full draw, results, schedule, and other information from the 2026 World Snooker Championship, visit our tournament information centre here.