Mark Selby has become the latest high-profile name to be dumped out of the first round of the World Snooker Championship.
The four-time champion has recently expressed a frustration with his form and suffering a 10-6 defeat to Joe O'Connor will cast further doubt over his future.
After reaching the midway stage 7-2 down to the world number 30, Selby performed far better once play got back underway on Monday afternoon.
Selby returned to take four of the opening six frames, breaks of 112 and 91 being included during that period, but the 40-year-old ultimately left himself too much to do.
O'Connor impressively held his nerve during a tense 16th frame, one which threatened a stalemate at one stage, to claim one of the biggest wins of his career by a 10-6 scoreline.
JOE K-O'CONNOR! 🔥@JoeOc147 beats four-time champion Mark Selby 10-6 on his Crucible debut.#cazooworldchampionship | @CazooHelp | @RiyadhSeason pic.twitter.com/Ly9aRdv6ZQ
— WST (@WeAreWST) April 22, 2024
How does top-half of World Snooker Championship draw now look?
Although the tournament is only three days old, Selby's exit is the third notable exit with defending champion Luca Brecel and Ali Carter also bowing out.
As it stands, world number eight Shaun Murphy looks the major beneficiary, with one of the Englishman, David Gilbert, Robert Milkins, Pang Junxu or Stephen Maguire now in line to make the semi-finals.
There has also been a surprise in the bottom half of the draw with Jak Jones - the world number 44 - disposing of 11th seed Zhang Anda, but he will now play either former world champion Mark Williams or last year's semi-finalist Si Jiahui.
Darren Plant
