Category: Snooker

Sunday afternoon at the World Snooker Championship saw the fifth seed Mark Selby face off with No. 30 seed Joe O’Connor in a battle of two men from Leicester.

Despite Selby’s heavy favouritism ahead of the match, it was O’Connor who produced a dominant display and swept into an imperious position.

Selby began by pulling up short with 33 and giving an early opening to O’Connor but he handed the initiative right back with just 20 of his own.

A less than stellar start continued with Selby missing an open red. O’Connor stepped back to the baize and this time put the opening frame away.

Another Selby miss on 38 threatened to open a lane for O’Connor but the younger man missed his starter and Selby’s break of 60 was enough to square the match.

O’Connor swung the match back in his favour with a tidy win in the third frame, with Selby little more than an interested observer.

Crucible debutant O’Connor began the fourth frame with some aggressive play, but the gamble didn’t pay off and Selby took over a favourable setup and saw the frame out.

At the mid-session interval, the match was all square at 2-2.

After the resumption of play, Selby was first up but managed only 16 before a risky red didn’t pay off. O’Connor stepped up and produced a strong 68 break to take the frame and move into a narrow lead.

It was the same story in the sixth frame, with Selby stuttering after starting well. O’Connor made it 4-2 with a 67.

A slow start to the seventh from O’Connor gave Selby an opportunity that he simply refused to take. A long shot on a red missed well wide after just four points, and O’Connor was back in control. He didn’t need to be asked again and swept up the table with a break of 101.

Things were looking dire for Selby and the next frame saw yet another chance wasted.

After opening with 19, O’Connor missed with a red but Selby did likewise with a pink shortly thereafter. A 74 break followed for O’Connor, who took his fourth consecutive frame to leave the No. 5 seed deep in trouble.

It was more of the same in the final frame of the day, with Selby failing to convert a tough cut and opening the door for O’Connor.

Despite a handful of awkward positions, O’Connor swept to a 61 break and the frame. He had taken five consecutive frames and ended the session in a commanding lead.

With the match set to resume on Monday afternoon, Selby has a mountain to climb.

Luca Brecel crashed out of the World Snooker Championship on Saturday evening, dropping the final four frames to qualifier David Gilbert.

The shock early exit of the reigning champion can be partially credited to the pressure of being the champion, according to Eurosport expert Alan McManus.

McManus, commentating for Eurosport on the tournament in Sheffield, observed that Brecel appeared to be struggling under the weight of expectation.

That was particularly true towards the end of his match against Gilbert, when he could have sealed victory by winning any of the final four frames.

McManus said: “To touch on Luca, it looked very much in that match that he was wearing the crown a bit heavy. It looked a bit heavy for him, maybe he was burdened by it.

“He needed one snooker in the last frame there and he wanted out of there. I’m only surmising it, we can’t get in Luca’s head but I said it one stage tonight, if you’re prepared to go out on your shield the way Luca is, you’re going to have to suffer the consequences.”

Continuing his analysis, McManus felt that Brecel had made poor decisions earlier in the match, and that those came back to haunt him when the tide turned.

He said: “He played a double that he’s got no business of playing at one stage when he was a frame or two clear, and he paid the price in the end for not paying attention to the stuff that he’s not brilliant at.

“He’s an unbelievably good player, talent wise, I don’t know whether he was totally committed to the job today.”

Defending a world title is, by definition, even more difficult than winning one in the first place. 19 champions have failed to retain their title in the following season, and no first-time champion has ever done so, but Brecel has endured a particularly complex year.

The Belgian has reached just one ranking quarter-final since being crowned, at the Welsh Open in February, and has also struggled in general at the Crucible. Last year was the only time that Brecel has advanced beyond the first round in the World Championship.

While Brecel might be expected to contest McManus’ analysis, he rather seemed to agree in his own post-match comments.

Brecel said: “It was a good year, but I look forward to not being a world champion again – I don’t like all the attention. I’ve been waiting for the season to end for a few weeks. It’s just a game, why should you be happy if you win and sad if you lose?”

The Belgian was also struggling with illness, after battling a throat infection since March.

He said: “I wanted to go for a run but it wasn’t possible and it has been a bit tough these few weeks. I was coughing all day but it’s not an excuse: I was just not good enough. I missed some balls and he played well and kept fighting.”

Brecel had even considered withdrawing from the tournament due to his illness.

He said: “Maybe if I was not defending champion, I would’ve pulled out, but it’s too big to pull out when you are seeded and defending world champion.”

Poor shot by Vafaei trying to roll down the table into the reds and he has left Judd right bang in among them again for an easy starter. Lovely shot to open up some reds via two cushions off the blue. That really is excellent. Judd beginning to motor here.

Surprise to refuse a pink to left middle, but Judd’s caution pays off in style as he moves 8-4 ahead. Hossein has seen enough. Trump closing in on victory.

Well, there we go. Judd holding a 50-0 advantage. But refuses to even attempt pink to left centre. Opts to knock the brown safe. But normal service is resumed when he drill in a long red seconds later. Chance to get frame won here surely.

Vafaei tries a cute escape from a snooker in baulk, but ends up hitting pink to leave his opponent a golden chance to seal this 12th frame. Enough reds in open to seal the deal here and now. Pink and black in the open too. Just a case of minding his business.

Judd suddenly seeing the long pots with real menace as in goes a red with some ease. Can’t get a kind nudge on reds off the black seconds later. So just the safety to follow.

The 2005 world champion Murphy off to a strong start with breaks of 53 and 71 on the other main table.

Stunning piece of long potting by Trump to fire in a red before finalising the 11th frame in his favour to restore the three-frame lead. A dominant frame by the Juddernaut.

Vafaei escapes from the snooker, but leaves a red over a left centre pocket. Chance for Judd to extend his lead in this frame, but he can’t land on a red after catching brown going in and out of baulk via the blue.

A very decent visit to the table from Judd in rolling in 34 before running safe. Tries to play a magical positional shot by bringing white in and out of baulk via blue, but just fails to land on the right red. Then bangs home a stunning red seconds later. Snooker behind pink on yellow spot to follow.

Trump first to the punch in the 11th frame as he tries to steady the ship somewhat. Bangs home an excellent cut on a red down a side rail. Super piece of cueing. Really is.

Hossein well in the ball game then with three more frames to come before the mid-session interval.

Stunning snooker by Vafaei to leave Trump behind the brown, but great escape from Judd at the second attempt to hit red. Hossein refuses red and it pays off as Trump then goes for a long red, misses it and ends up sticking up the game for his opponent. So eight more points from Vafaei, and Judd concedes. It is back to 6-4.

Down to the final three reds with Hossein holding a lead of 46 points. Vafaei needing one more red to leave Trump needing a snooker. Very aggressive tactics so far from the ‘Prince of Persia’. Vital frame for his future health in this match, you would suggest.

A huge fluke from Judd as he goes for a long red and misses it, but sends white crashing into the reds before fluking a red. Lands nicely on blue, but then misses a straight red seconds later. That is a remarkable miss. No damage done for Hossein as he returns to table. Looked a nervy miss from Trump.

A 30 break from Hossein before a shot to nothing on red doesn’t drop. Decent cameo break, but plenty of scope to recover. Black is tied up and pink is awkward too on a side cushion. So 30 points perhaps better than it sounds.

Vafaei breaks off for the 10th frame of this contest. A cry of ‘C’mon Ronnie’ is heard from the packed Crucible crowd. Ah well. You pay your money, you take your choice. Vital first frame of the day coming up. Great long red with deep screw from Hossein to get the party started. In goes blue and another fine recovery pot on a red to left centre.

Welcome back to the Crucible Theatre as Super Sunday in Sheffield continues. 2019 winner Judd Trump holding a 6-3 lead over Iran’s ‘Prince of Persia’ Hossein Vafaei as they play to a finish at the back of 2:30pm while Shaun Murphy gets his campaign up and running against Lyu Haotian with the first of their nine frames being played on the other main showpiece table. Boys on Baize imminently.

• Mark Selby 2-7 Joe O’Connor
• Zhang Anda 4-10 Jak Jones

• Shaun Murphy 0-0 Lyu Haotian
• Judd Trump 6-3 Hossein Vafaei

• Ali Carter 5-4 Stephen Maguire
• Tom Ford v Ricky Walden

We’ll be back at 14.15 GMT for the resumption of the match between Judd Trump and Hossein Vafaei.

I’d be surprised if Joe O’Connor has played a better mini-session of snooker than that before. It was tit for tat to reach 2-2 at the interval, but in the five frames that came after it Joe blasted an out of sorts Mark Selby off the table. Breaks of 122, 67, 101, 74, and 61 saw Joe win five on the spin, and the four-time world champion is now in a world of bother. The match will resume tomorrow morning, and Mark has it all to do just to make a fight of this.

Frame ball red is a short clip along the rail and into the bottom right. It’s a stretch for Joe, with awkward bridging over the black and two other reds, but he converts it. The pink follows, as does a showboat double on his next red; it’s 61 in total, and Joe has dominated Mark in this mini-session to establish a commanding lead.

On our other table the match has just finished, with Jak Jones beating Zhang Anda 10-4.

Joe is well aware that 7-2 is a very different kettle of kippers to 6-3 overnight, and is taking his time on this break. He reaches 40 in this break with a blue to right middle. A testing red to green pocket is next but he calmly strokes it in deadweight, and he’s inching closer to winning a fifth frame on the spin.

Mark gets first look in our final frame of the day, but can’t convert a tricky cut back to the bottom right. He’s left it hanging over the pocket, and Joe is soon in the balls again. On 11 it all goes wrong though, as he not only misses a simple yellow and accidentally pots the blue. It’s a chance for Mark but he can’t take it, with another attempt at a cut to bottom right that misses by a big margin. Joe picks out a plant in the bunch, and lands on he pink; Mark could be in even more trouble now.

Joe makes his half-century with frame ball black, and the red that follows puts this one to bed. He can’t pot the final red with the rest, but that 74 now puts Joe four in front. What a huge frame this is coming up; we saw the number one seed go out yesterday, and our fifth seed is in real bother this morning.

On our other table, Jak Jones now leads Zhang Anda 9-4. Meanwhile, here’s Angles on Brecel’s exit yesterday.

After landing straight on the blue Joe picks out a good recovery red from mid-range to keep going, and he’s back on the black. With what’s left in the open here he should comfortably take the frame out, and this is looking worrying for Mark.

Mark plays a good safety with the white behind the green, cutting off the right side of the table. Joe can’t connect to a thin red down the other side, and it’s a miss and four away. It’s really not happening for Mark though; he pots a red and goes into a cluster by the pink, landing on said ball, but he can’t drop it into the left middle. That’s left Joe with a golden chance to win a fourth frame in a row.

What a shot this is to start frame eight, as Joe makes a double to the bottom left, and lands on the pink. Reds moved around on that shot, and although the black is currently tied up there are some points on here again for Joe. He gets to 19, swinging the white around the angles off the blue, but fails to land on a red so it’s end of break.

Joe takes frame ball red to the bottom right, and the black follows to make it certain. Mark is in a bit of bother here, and needs to get a frame on the board before this session concludes. Back at the table, Joe is having some fun. He’s in a lovely rhythm here, and empties the table once more for a break of 101. This is some debut so far.

Just like that, things change; Joe misses an awkward cut to the right middle, and the white goes in off in the opposite pocket. Can Mark take advantage? No he can’t; he misses a long red from the D by a mile and he’s left Joe right in again. Mark looks very cold at the table right now, as Joe takes his score to over 50 in the frame with a blue to left middle; the ensuing cannon into the reds near the pink leaves one to the left middle, and he’s looking good again.

A poor safety from Joe leaves Mark a mid-range red to bottom left, but he can’t convert it. Joe tags the red in instead, but only just; the red uses all of the bottom left pocket before dropping, but he’s on the pink and soon motoring again. If he can win another one here he’ll be assured of a lead when the match resumes tomorrow. The break reaches 30 as he goes into the pack off the black, but it leaves only a long red to the green pocket. It’s a tough shot but Joe creams it in to hold for the yellow, a superb shot and a sign of a player in great touch.

That’s a big steal from Joe, as he dishes up to the pink for a 67 to go two in front. He’s warming to his task here, and visibly growing in confidence.

In reaching 37 Joe loses the white a little, leaving himself a tough pink to get on the final red. It needs the cue extension and the rest, and Joe tags it in superbly. He’s high again on the final red but glides it in and lands perfect on the green. That goes, and if he clears up to the blue Selby would need a snooker.

Mark quickly opens the six reds below the pink. It’s a frame-winning chance now, but he misses a red to left middle off the bottom knuckle and it’s served Joe a gift chance to get right back in this. All eight remaining reds are in the wide open, and he starts making hay. Sensibly, Joe is taking his time with this; it’s a real chance to establish the first two frame lead of the day.

A careless shot from Joe here, as he rolls deadweight into the pack but leaves a red on to bottom left. Mark jabs it in, the pink follows and now this is a chance. The black is out of commission but blue and pink are available, with two loose reds also up in the baulk area. Mark goes up for them, but an awful positional shot leaves him on neither. No matter; he pulls out a superb recovery red to bottom left to hold for the pink, and he’s back in control.

Joe’s in first in frame six, hosing a beauty of a red into the bottom right from distance. The blue follows but he can’t force it around the angles enough to land on another red, so plays safe back to baulk. After some tap and nudge safety on the pack leads to a stalemate, the players agree a re-rack. When we resume it’s Mark that gets in first with a red-blue, which he then follows with a tough red to bottom right despite the white being welded to the side cushion. It’s gone the way of the pear now though as Mark misses the black off its spot and send reds flying; when the table settles he’s so fortunate to leave nothing.

The break moves to 68 as Joe drops a red into the right middle, and he then plays a run through on the blue to come off one cushion and split the remaining three reds away from the pink. That’s a superb shot, and the frame is one. Now able to relax, Joe lets his arm go a little to empty the table for a superb 122 that puts him back in front. ‘A really outstanding break for me,’ says Fouldsy in co-comms, and so say all of us.

A quick update on events on the other table, Jak Jones leads Zhang Anda 7-3.

Joe plays a nice shot here, potting the black and sending the white into two reds left of the pink, which turns this into a frame-winning chance as they split perfectly. A pink brings up his half-century and he’s looking good to take the lead again here.

We’re back and Mark’s in first in frame five, and makes a quick 16 before losing position when a cannon on a red doesn’t work out. Joe then floats in a beautiful deadweight red from the D to hold for the black. He quickly takes the lead in the frame and the reds are set very nicely here if he can stay in position.

Joe gets a red down but can’t follow it with the pink, and that should be curtains for the frame. Two reds and blues put Mark over the winning line, and a red down the rail with the rest makes sure. The green doesn’t go thereafter but Joe concedes, and we’re all square at the interval.

We’ll be back in 15 minutes. In the meantime, here’s Angles and the Wind on a player who could be a world champion very soon.

After losing position slightly Mark recovers with a superbly controlled red to bottom left at pace, coming off two cushions to land perfectly on the blue. The break is done on 49 though as he loses position again, and with a healthy lead Mark opts to put the brown safe.

This is crackling along at a decent lick. At the start of frame four some attacking safety opens the table up immediately, and Joe gambles the lot on a long red to bottom left that doesn’t drop, and Mark gets in with a red cut fine into the left middle. It’s a dangerous table; the black has drifted slightly out of play but pink and blue are on, so there’s a sizeable break on for Mark here if he can keep the white on a leash. He gets to work and there’s 26 on the board already.

There goes the frame, as Joe calmly adds 40 to retake the lead.

After five reds and blacks Joe is forced to go up the table off his sixth red. It leaves a tough blue to the green pocket, and he can’t convert it so his break abruptly ends on 41. Mark responds with a superb red to bottom left to land on the blue, off which he drives the white into the pack. It’s an awful split though, leaving only a taxing red to bottom left which he fails to plug. Back comes Joe though, potting a testing red and black, and he’s back in position to take the frame.

It’s another safety exchange to open frame three, in which Joe forces an error from Mark and gets a good look at a mid-range red to bottom right. Joe drives it in and, despite finishing low on the black, calmly glides that into the same pocket. Control of the cue ball is eluding him in this break though and he’s soon forced into using the swan rest to bridge over the pack and get to a red to bottom right. It’s an awkward shot but he jabs it in to land on the black, and now he’s in prime position.

Sure enough Mark soon puts the frame to bed, with a break of 60 bringing things level in the match.

Joe could be punished here, as he misses his starter red and leaves it on for Mark. The red disappears and Mark drives through the pack off the black, leaving a cut on a red to bottom left with the full set of cue extensions. It’s a delicate shot but Mark drops it in to hold for the black, making him a massive favourite for the frame. The break moves to 22 and counting, and he’s only a few balls away now.

A long safety exchange opens frame two, before Mark sweeps in a long red and comes off two cushions to land on the black. There’s a fair bit in the open here after all that safety, and after three reds and blacks to start, Mark takes a red-blue combo to nix any hopes of a maximum. Humbug! We may well see the first big break of the day though, this frame could be taken out in one visit. As sure as night follows day, Mark then finishes high on a red and misses it to bottom left, ending his break on 38.

Here’s a big chance for Joe. Mark misses a thin snick safety, and on his second attempt leaves the red as a thin cut to bottom right. Joe slices it in and lands on the blue, and surely he sees it home from here. Up to and including the brown will do it and Joe does indeed do that, but Mark will play on after Joe misses the blue. Not for long though; Mark puts the blue and then flukes the pink, which ends the frame in Joe’s favour.

On the final one of the open reds Joe misses it virtually straight to the bottom left, and he’s left it on to the left middle. In steps Mark, who mops it up followed by the blue and then lands behind of the final to reds near the cushion. He takes it on with the full set of rest extensions, but it rattles out of the jaws and he’s left it on. Joe takes that, then blue, but opts out of a difficult final red down the rail to play safe.

Mark opens the bunch, stunning a red in to the left middle and glancing the pack as he does so. That leaves him low on the black, and he doesn’t cut it enough to the bottom left and it rattles out. What a chance now for Joe; a good spread of reds, and a chance to settle in to this. He’s put 20 up in reply already, but with the black and two reds out of contention it’ll be tough to turn this into a frame winning visit.

Joe misses a long bash at a red from the D, and he’s left Mark a near straight jab at a long red to green pocket. In it goes, and Mark’s on the black and away. There are a few loose reds around so Mark starts picking them off, and this is a nice, rhythmic start from him.

Our MC Rob Walker introduces boys and baize, and we’re off.

Zhang Anda and Jak Jones resume their match on the other table, with Jak 5-2 in front. We’ll keep you informed.

Mark’s fellow Leicester player has been on the rise for a little while now. Joe’s ranking is up to 31 in the world and he’s reached the semi-finals of the Welsh Open and the final of the Scottish Open. He is the only debutant at the Crucible this year, and beat Matthew Selt to qualify.

Even now I’m still not sure Mark Selby gets the credit he deserves. In the most competitive era of the sport, he’s been the most dominant player post the Class of 92; four worlds, nine grand slams, 22 ranking titles, 820 tons and five maximums. His narrow defeat to Luca Brecel last year was his fifth Crucible final in ten years, and he still decorated it with the first ever 147 in final history. Mark is some player and if the wider world doesn’t know just how good, the sport does.

Feeling fresh? Good stuff. Here we go then with day two of the 2024 World Snooker Championship. We had some shift yesterday, with defending champion Luca Brecel stunned by a late comeback from David Gilbert and beaten 10-9. Let’s see what today brings, and it’s Crucible royalty in the house first up; four-time world champion Mark Selby takes on Joe O’Conner shortly, and we’ll follow every frame of this first session

Luca Brecel was sent spinning out of the World Championship 10-9 in the first round as David Gilbert won the final four frames to ensure the Crucible curse of first-time defending champions continued.

No first-time winner has ever defended the title in the Crucible era, with a host of star names such as Steve Davis and Neil Robertson crashing out at the first hurdle 12 months on.

Brecel looked well set to avoid that after taking a 6-3 lead in the first session, and moving 9-6 ahead on Saturday evening.

That lead was a flattering one for the Belgian, as his form dipped alarmingly and he enjoyed huge slices of luck.

But he was unable to close out the match and Gilbert kept chipping away before producing his best passage of play at the business end to seal a thrilling win.

• Mark Selby 2-7 Joe O’Connor
• Zhang Anda 4-10 Jak Jones

• Shaun Murphy 0-0 Lyu Haotian
• Judd Trump 6-3 Hossein Vafaei

• Ali Carter 5-4 Stephen Maguire
• Tom Ford v Ricky Walden

Trump finishes off the frame to move 9-4 clear. He defeated Vafaei 10-4 two years ago in the first round, and looks like we may be heading for a repeat result here.

Making easy work of these balls so far. Until he misses a straight red left-handed. Was the penultimate red too. What a chance he has spurned there. And it is going to cost him the frame.

All going on out there as Vafaei twice misses a red attempting to escape from a snooker, but is then warned he can hit a red straight on by referee Rob Spencer, who is willing to implement the three-miss rule. He doesn’t really agree before finally hitting the red off top cush. Judd misses a tricky red, but his opponent can only add 11 points. Judd then knocks a red over a top bag which Hossein wallops in. And lands nicely on black. Chance to produce a winning counter attack.

A 49 break from Judd this time. No one-visit hit, but another solid safety shot to finish off the contribution. Vafaei on cusp of falling five frames behind as he fails to escape from a snooker off the top cush.

Poor shot by Vafaei trying to roll down the table into the reds and he has left Judd right bang in among them again for an easy starter. Lovely shot to open up some reds via two cushions off the blue. That really is excellent. Judd beginning to motor here.

Surprise to refuse a pink to left middle, but Judd’s caution pays off in style as he moves 8-4 ahead. Hossein has seen enough. Trump closing in on victory.

Well, there we go. Judd holding a 50-0 advantage. But refuses to even attempt pink to left centre. Opts to knock the brown safe. But normal service is resumed when he drill in a long red seconds later. Chance to get frame won here surely.

Vafaei tries a cute escape from a snooker in baulk, but ends up hitting pink to leave his opponent a golden chance to seal this 12th frame. Enough reds in open to seal the deal here and now. Pink and black in the open too. Just a case of minding his business.

Judd suddenly seeing the long pots with real menace as in goes a red with some ease. Can’t get a kind nudge on reds off the black seconds later. So just the safety to follow.

The 2005 world champion Murphy off to a strong start with breaks of 53 and 71 on the other main table.

Stunning piece of long potting by Trump to fire in a red before finalising the 11th frame in his favour to restore the three-frame lead. A dominant frame by the Juddernaut.

Vafaei escapes from the snooker, but leaves a red over a left centre pocket. Chance for Judd to extend his lead in this frame, but he can’t land on a red after catching brown going in and out of baulk via the blue.

A very decent visit to the table from Judd in rolling in 34 before running safe. Tries to play a magical positional shot by bringing white in and out of baulk via blue, but just fails to land on the right red. Then bangs home a stunning red seconds later. Snooker behind pink on yellow spot to follow.

Trump first to the punch in the 11th frame as he tries to steady the ship somewhat. Bangs home an excellent cut on a red down a side rail. Super piece of cueing. Really is.

Hossein well in the ball game then with three more frames to come before the mid-session interval.

Stunning snooker by Vafaei to leave Trump behind the brown, but great escape from Judd at the second attempt to hit red. Hossein refuses red and it pays off as Trump then goes for a long red, misses it and ends up sticking up the game for his opponent. So eight more points from Vafaei, and Judd concedes. It is back to 6-4.

Down to the final three reds with Hossein holding a lead of 46 points. Vafaei needing one more red to leave Trump needing a snooker. Very aggressive tactics so far from the ‘Prince of Persia’. Vital frame for his future health in this match, you would suggest.

A huge fluke from Judd as he goes for a long red and misses it, but sends white crashing into the reds before fluking a red. Lands nicely on blue, but then misses a straight red seconds later. That is a remarkable miss. No damage done for Hossein as he returns to table. Looked a nervy miss from Trump.

A 30 break from Hossein before a shot to nothing on red doesn’t drop. Decent cameo break, but plenty of scope to recover. Black is tied up and pink is awkward too on a side cushion. So 30 points perhaps better than it sounds.

Vafaei breaks off for the 10th frame of this contest. A cry of ‘C’mon Ronnie’ is heard from the packed Crucible crowd. Ah well. You pay your money, you take your choice. Vital first frame of the day coming up. Great long red with deep screw from Hossein to get the party started. In goes blue and another fine recovery pot on a red to left centre.

Welcome back to the Crucible Theatre as Super Sunday in Sheffield continues. 2019 winner Judd Trump holding a 6-3 lead over Iran’s ‘Prince of Persia’ Hossein Vafaei as they play to a finish at the back of 2:30pm while Shaun Murphy gets his campaign up and running against Lyu Haotian with the first of their nine frames being played on the other main showpiece table. Boys on Baize imminently.

• Mark Selby 2-7 Joe O’Connor
• Zhang Anda 4-10 Jak Jones

• Shaun Murphy 0-0 Lyu Haotian
• Judd Trump 6-3 Hossein Vafaei

• Ali Carter 5-4 Stephen Maguire
• Tom Ford v Ricky Walden

We’ll be back at 14.15 GMT for the resumption of the match between Judd Trump and Hossein Vafaei.

I’d be surprised if Joe O’Connor has played a better mini-session of snooker than that before. It was tit for tat to reach 2-2 at the interval, but in the five frames that came after it Joe blasted an out of sorts Mark Selby off the table. Breaks of 122, 67, 101, 74, and 61 saw Joe win five on the spin, and the four-time world champion is now in a world of bother. The match will resume tomorrow morning, and Mark has it all to do just to make a fight of this.

Frame ball red is a short clip along the rail and into the bottom right. It’s a stretch for Joe, with awkward bridging over the black and two other reds, but he converts it. The pink follows, as does a showboat double on his next red; it’s 61 in total, and Joe has dominated Mark in this mini-session to establish a commanding lead.

On our other table the match has just finished, with Jak Jones beating Zhang Anda 10-4.

Joe is well aware that 7-2 is a very different kettle of kippers to 6-3 overnight, and is taking his time on this break. He reaches 40 in this break with a blue to right middle. A testing red to green pocket is next but he calmly strokes it in deadweight, and he’s inching closer to winning a fifth frame on the spin.

Mark gets first look in our final frame of the day, but can’t convert a tricky cut back to the bottom right. He’s left it hanging over the pocket, and Joe is soon in the balls again. On 11 it all goes wrong though, as he not only misses a simple yellow and accidentally pots the blue. It’s a chance for Mark but he can’t take it, with another attempt at a cut to bottom right that misses by a big margin. Joe picks out a plant in the bunch, and lands on he pink; Mark could be in even more trouble now.

Joe makes his half-century with frame ball black, and the red that follows puts this one to bed. He can’t pot the final red with the rest, but that 74 now puts Joe four in front. What a huge frame this is coming up; we saw the number one seed go out yesterday, and our fifth seed is in real bother this morning.

On our other table, Jak Jones now leads Zhang Anda 9-4. Meanwhile, here’s Angles on Brecel’s exit yesterday.

After landing straight on the blue Joe picks out a good recovery red from mid-range to keep going, and he’s back on the black. With what’s left in the open here he should comfortably take the frame out, and this is looking worrying for Mark.

Mark plays a good safety with the white behind the green, cutting off the right side of the table. Joe can’t connect to a thin red down the other side, and it’s a miss and four away. It’s really not happening for Mark though; he pots a red and goes into a cluster by the pink, landing on said ball, but he can’t drop it into the left middle. That’s left Joe with a golden chance to win a fourth frame in a row.

What a shot this is to start frame eight, as Joe makes a double to the bottom left, and lands on the pink. Reds moved around on that shot, and although the black is currently tied up there are some points on here again for Joe. He gets to 19, swinging the white around the angles off the blue, but fails to land on a red so it’s end of break.

Joe takes frame ball red to the bottom right, and the black follows to make it certain. Mark is in a bit of bother here, and needs to get a frame on the board before this session concludes. Back at the table, Joe is having some fun. He’s in a lovely rhythm here, and empties the table once more for a break of 101. This is some debut so far.

Just like that, things change; Joe misses an awkward cut to the right middle, and the white goes in off in the opposite pocket. Can Mark take advantage? No he can’t; he misses a long red from the D by a mile and he’s left Joe right in again. Mark looks very cold at the table right now, as Joe takes his score to over 50 in the frame with a blue to left middle; the ensuing cannon into the reds near the pink leaves one to the left middle, and he’s looking good again.

A poor safety from Joe leaves Mark a mid-range red to bottom left, but he can’t convert it. Joe tags the red in instead, but only just; the red uses all of the bottom left pocket before dropping, but he’s on the pink and soon motoring again. If he can win another one here he’ll be assured of a lead when the match resumes tomorrow. The break reaches 30 as he goes into the pack off the black, but it leaves only a long red to the green pocket. It’s a tough shot but Joe creams it in to hold for the yellow, a superb shot and a sign of a player in great touch.

That’s a big steal from Joe, as he dishes up to the pink for a 67 to go two in front. He’s warming to his task here, and visibly growing in confidence.

In reaching 37 Joe loses the white a little, leaving himself a tough pink to get on the final red. It needs the cue extension and the rest, and Joe tags it in superbly. He’s high again on the final red but glides it in and lands perfect on the green. That goes, and if he clears up to the blue Selby would need a snooker.

Mark quickly opens the six reds below the pink. It’s a frame-winning chance now, but he misses a red to left middle off the bottom knuckle and it’s served Joe a gift chance to get right back in this. All eight remaining reds are in the wide open, and he starts making hay. Sensibly, Joe is taking his time with this; it’s a real chance to establish the first two frame lead of the day.

A careless shot from Joe here, as he rolls deadweight into the pack but leaves a red on to bottom left. Mark jabs it in, the pink follows and now this is a chance. The black is out of commission but blue and pink are available, with two loose reds also up in the baulk area. Mark goes up for them, but an awful positional shot leaves him on neither. No matter; he pulls out a superb recovery red to bottom left to hold for the pink, and he’s back in control.

Joe’s in first in frame six, hosing a beauty of a red into the bottom right from distance. The blue follows but he can’t force it around the angles enough to land on another red, so plays safe back to baulk. After some tap and nudge safety on the pack leads to a stalemate, the players agree a re-rack. When we resume it’s Mark that gets in first with a red-blue, which he then follows with a tough red to bottom right despite the white being welded to the side cushion. It’s gone the way of the pear now though as Mark misses the black off its spot and send reds flying; when the table settles he’s so fortunate to leave nothing.

The break moves to 68 as Joe drops a red into the right middle, and he then plays a run through on the blue to come off one cushion and split the remaining three reds away from the pink. That’s a superb shot, and the frame is one. Now able to relax, Joe lets his arm go a little to empty the table for a superb 122 that puts him back in front. ‘A really outstanding break for me,’ says Fouldsy in co-comms, and so say all of us.

A quick update on events on the other table, Jak Jones leads Zhang Anda 7-3.

Joe plays a nice shot here, potting the black and sending the white into two reds left of the pink, which turns this into a frame-winning chance as they split perfectly. A pink brings up his half-century and he’s looking good to take the lead again here.

We’re back and Mark’s in first in frame five, and makes a quick 16 before losing position when a cannon on a red doesn’t work out. Joe then floats in a beautiful deadweight red from the D to hold for the black. He quickly takes the lead in the frame and the reds are set very nicely here if he can stay in position.

Joe gets a red down but can’t follow it with the pink, and that should be curtains for the frame. Two reds and blues put Mark over the winning line, and a red down the rail with the rest makes sure. The green doesn’t go thereafter but Joe concedes, and we’re all square at the interval.

We’ll be back in 15 minutes. In the meantime, here’s Angles and the Wind on a player who could be a world champion very soon.

After losing position slightly Mark recovers with a superbly controlled red to bottom left at pace, coming off two cushions to land perfectly on the blue. The break is done on 49 though as he loses position again, and with a healthy lead Mark opts to put the brown safe.

This is crackling along at a decent lick. At the start of frame four some attacking safety opens the table up immediately, and Joe gambles the lot on a long red to bottom left that doesn’t drop, and Mark gets in with a red cut fine into the left middle. It’s a dangerous table; the black has drifted slightly out of play but pink and blue are on, so there’s a sizeable break on for Mark here if he can keep the white on a leash. He gets to work and there’s 26 on the board already.

There goes the frame, as Joe calmly adds 40 to retake the lead.

After five reds and blacks Joe is forced to go up the table off his sixth red. It leaves a tough blue to the green pocket, and he can’t convert it so his break abruptly ends on 41. Mark responds with a superb red to bottom left to land on the blue, off which he drives the white into the pack. It’s an awful split though, leaving only a taxing red to bottom left which he fails to plug. Back comes Joe though, potting a testing red and black, and he’s back in position to take the frame.

It’s another safety exchange to open frame three, in which Joe forces an error from Mark and gets a good look at a mid-range red to bottom right. Joe drives it in and, despite finishing low on the black, calmly glides that into the same pocket. Control of the cue ball is eluding him in this break though and he’s soon forced into using the swan rest to bridge over the pack and get to a red to bottom right. It’s an awkward shot but he jabs it in to land on the black, and now he’s in prime position.

Sure enough Mark soon puts the frame to bed, with a break of 60 bringing things level in the match.

Joe could be punished here, as he misses his starter red and leaves it on for Mark. The red disappears and Mark drives through the pack off the black, leaving a cut on a red to bottom left with the full set of cue extensions. It’s a delicate shot but Mark drops it in to hold for the black, making him a massive favourite for the frame. The break moves to 22 and counting, and he’s only a few balls away now.

A long safety exchange opens frame two, before Mark sweeps in a long red and comes off two cushions to land on the black. There’s a fair bit in the open here after all that safety, and after three reds and blacks to start, Mark takes a red-blue combo to nix any hopes of a maximum. Humbug! We may well see the first big break of the day though, this frame could be taken out in one visit. As sure as night follows day, Mark then finishes high on a red and misses it to bottom left, ending his break on 38.

Here’s a big chance for Joe. Mark misses a thin snick safety, and on his second attempt leaves the red as a thin cut to bottom right. Joe slices it in and lands on the blue, and surely he sees it home from here. Up to and including the brown will do it and Joe does indeed do that, but Mark will play on after Joe misses the blue. Not for long though; Mark puts the blue and then flukes the pink, which ends the frame in Joe’s favour.

On the final one of the open reds Joe misses it virtually straight to the bottom left, and he’s left it on to the left middle. In steps Mark, who mops it up followed by the blue and then lands behind of the final to reds near the cushion. He takes it on with the full set of rest extensions, but it rattles out of the jaws and he’s left it on. Joe takes that, then blue, but opts out of a difficult final red down the rail to play safe.

Mark opens the bunch, stunning a red in to the left middle and glancing the pack as he does so. That leaves him low on the black, and he doesn’t cut it enough to the bottom left and it rattles out. What a chance now for Joe; a good spread of reds, and a chance to settle in to this. He’s put 20 up in reply already, but with the black and two reds out of contention it’ll be tough to turn this into a frame winning visit.

Joe misses a long bash at a red from the D, and he’s left Mark a near straight jab at a long red to green pocket. In it goes, and Mark’s on the black and away. There are a few loose reds around so Mark starts picking them off, and this is a nice, rhythmic start from him.

Our MC Rob Walker introduces boys and baize, and we’re off.

Zhang Anda and Jak Jones resume their match on the other table, with Jak 5-2 in front. We’ll keep you informed.

Mark’s fellow Leicester player has been on the rise for a little while now. Joe’s ranking is up to 31 in the world and he’s reached the semi-finals of the Welsh Open and the final of the Scottish Open. He is the only debutant at the Crucible this year, and beat Matthew Selt to qualify.

Even now I’m still not sure Mark Selby gets the credit he deserves. In the most competitive era of the sport, he’s been the most dominant player post the Class of 92; four worlds, nine grand slams, 22 ranking titles, 820 tons and five maximums. His narrow defeat to Luca Brecel last year was his fifth Crucible final in ten years, and he still decorated it with the first ever 147 in final history. Mark is some player and if the wider world doesn’t know just how good, the sport does.

Feeling fresh? Good stuff. Here we go then with day two of the 2024 World Snooker Championship. We had some shift yesterday, with defending champion Luca Brecel stunned by a late comeback from David Gilbert and beaten 10-9. Let’s see what today brings, and it’s Crucible royalty in the house first up; four-time world champion Mark Selby takes on Joe O’Conner shortly, and we’ll follow every frame of this first session

Luca Brecel was sent spinning out of the World Championship 10-9 in the first round as David Gilbert won the final four frames to ensure the Crucible curse of first-time defending champions continued.

No first-time winner has ever defended the title in the Crucible era, with a host of star names such as Steve Davis and Neil Robertson crashing out at the first hurdle 12 months on.

Brecel looked well set to avoid that after taking a 6-3 lead in the first session, and moving 9-6 ahead on Saturday evening.

That lead was a flattering one for the Belgian, as his form dipped alarmingly and he enjoyed huge slices of luck.

But he was unable to close out the match and Gilbert kept chipping away before producing his best passage of play at the business end to seal a thrilling win.

• Mark Selby 2-7 Joe O’Connor
• Zhang Anda 4-10 Jak Jones

• Shaun Murphy 0-0 Lyu Haotian
• Judd Trump 6-3 Hossein Vafaei

• Ali Carter 5-4 Stephen Maguire
• Tom Ford v Ricky Walden

Trump finishes off the frame to move 9-4 clear. He defeated Vafaei 10-4 two years ago in the first round, and looks like we may be heading for a repeat result here.

Making easy work of these balls so far. Until he misses a straight red left-handed. Was the penultimate red too. What a chance he has spurned there. And it is going to cost him the frame.

All going on out there as Vafaei twice misses a red attempting to escape from a snooker, but is then warned he can hit a red straight on by referee Rob Spencer, who is willing to implement the three-miss rule. He doesn’t really agree before finally hitting the red off top cush. Judd misses a tricky red, but his opponent can only add 11 points. Judd then knocks a red over a top bag which Hossein wallops in. And lands nicely on black. Chance to produce a winning counter attack.

A 49 break from Judd this time. No one-visit hit, but another solid safety shot to finish off the contribution. Vafaei on cusp of falling five frames behind as he fails to escape from a snooker off the top cush.

Poor shot by Vafaei trying to roll down the table into the reds and he has left Judd right bang in among them again for an easy starter. Lovely shot to open up some reds via two cushions off the blue. That really is excellent. Judd beginning to motor here.

Surprise to refuse a pink to left middle, but Judd’s caution pays off in style as he moves 8-4 ahead. Hossein has seen enough. Trump closing in on victory.

Well, there we go. Judd holding a 50-0 advantage. But refuses to even attempt pink to left centre. Opts to knock the brown safe. But normal service is resumed when he drill in a long red seconds later. Chance to get frame won here surely.

Vafaei tries a cute escape from a snooker in baulk, but ends up hitting pink to leave his opponent a golden chance to seal this 12th frame. Enough reds in open to seal the deal here and now. Pink and black in the open too. Just a case of minding his business.

Judd suddenly seeing the long pots with real menace as in goes a red with some ease. Can’t get a kind nudge on reds off the black seconds later. So just the safety to follow.

The 2005 world champion Murphy off to a strong start with breaks of 53 and 71 on the other main table.

Stunning piece of long potting by Trump to fire in a red before finalising the 11th frame in his favour to restore the three-frame lead. A dominant frame by the Juddernaut.

Vafaei escapes from the snooker, but leaves a red over a left centre pocket. Chance for Judd to extend his lead in this frame, but he can’t land on a red after catching brown going in and out of baulk via the blue.

A very decent visit to the table from Judd in rolling in 34 before running safe. Tries to play a magical positional shot by bringing white in and out of baulk via blue, but just fails to land on the right red. Then bangs home a stunning red seconds later. Snooker behind pink on yellow spot to follow.

Trump first to the punch in the 11th frame as he tries to steady the ship somewhat. Bangs home an excellent cut on a red down a side rail. Super piece of cueing. Really is.

Hossein well in the ball game then with three more frames to come before the mid-session interval.

Stunning snooker by Vafaei to leave Trump behind the brown, but great escape from Judd at the second attempt to hit red. Hossein refuses red and it pays off as Trump then goes for a long red, misses it and ends up sticking up the game for his opponent. So eight more points from Vafaei, and Judd concedes. It is back to 6-4.

Down to the final three reds with Hossein holding a lead of 46 points. Vafaei needing one more red to leave Trump needing a snooker. Very aggressive tactics so far from the ‘Prince of Persia’. Vital frame for his future health in this match, you would suggest.

A huge fluke from Judd as he goes for a long red and misses it, but sends white crashing into the reds before fluking a red. Lands nicely on blue, but then misses a straight red seconds later. That is a remarkable miss. No damage done for Hossein as he returns to table. Looked a nervy miss from Trump.

A 30 break from Hossein before a shot to nothing on red doesn’t drop. Decent cameo break, but plenty of scope to recover. Black is tied up and pink is awkward too on a side cushion. So 30 points perhaps better than it sounds.

Vafaei breaks off for the 10th frame of this contest. A cry of ‘C’mon Ronnie’ is heard from the packed Crucible crowd. Ah well. You pay your money, you take your choice. Vital first frame of the day coming up. Great long red with deep screw from Hossein to get the party started. In goes blue and another fine recovery pot on a red to left centre.

Welcome back to the Crucible Theatre as Super Sunday in Sheffield continues. 2019 winner Judd Trump holding a 6-3 lead over Iran’s ‘Prince of Persia’ Hossein Vafaei as they play to a finish at the back of 2:30pm while Shaun Murphy gets his campaign up and running against Lyu Haotian with the first of their nine frames being played on the other main showpiece table. Boys on Baize imminently.

• Mark Selby 2-7 Joe O’Connor
• Zhang Anda 4-10 Jak Jones

• Shaun Murphy 0-0 Lyu Haotian
• Judd Trump 6-3 Hossein Vafaei

• Ali Carter 5-4 Stephen Maguire
• Tom Ford v Ricky Walden

We’ll be back at 14.15 GMT for the resumption of the match between Judd Trump and Hossein Vafaei.

I’d be surprised if Joe O’Connor has played a better mini-session of snooker than that before. It was tit for tat to reach 2-2 at the interval, but in the five frames that came after it Joe blasted an out of sorts Mark Selby off the table. Breaks of 122, 67, 101, 74, and 61 saw Joe win five on the spin, and the four-time world champion is now in a world of bother. The match will resume tomorrow morning, and Mark has it all to do just to make a fight of this.

Frame ball red is a short clip along the rail and into the bottom right. It’s a stretch for Joe, with awkward bridging over the black and two other reds, but he converts it. The pink follows, as does a showboat double on his next red; it’s 61 in total, and Joe has dominated Mark in this mini-session to establish a commanding lead.

On our other table the match has just finished, with Jak Jones beating Zhang Anda 10-4.

Joe is well aware that 7-2 is a very different kettle of kippers to 6-3 overnight, and is taking his time on this break. He reaches 40 in this break with a blue to right middle. A testing red to green pocket is next but he calmly strokes it in deadweight, and he’s inching closer to winning a fifth frame on the spin.

Mark gets first look in our final frame of the day, but can’t convert a tricky cut back to the bottom right. He’s left it hanging over the pocket, and Joe is soon in the balls again. On 11 it all goes wrong though, as he not only misses a simple yellow and accidentally pots the blue. It’s a chance for Mark but he can’t take it, with another attempt at a cut to bottom right that misses by a big margin. Joe picks out a plant in the bunch, and lands on he pink; Mark could be in even more trouble now.

Joe makes his half-century with frame ball black, and the red that follows puts this one to bed. He can’t pot the final red with the rest, but that 74 now puts Joe four in front. What a huge frame this is coming up; we saw the number one seed go out yesterday, and our fifth seed is in real bother this morning.

On our other table, Jak Jones now leads Zhang Anda 9-4. Meanwhile, here’s Angles on Brecel’s exit yesterday.

After landing straight on the blue Joe picks out a good recovery red from mid-range to keep going, and he’s back on the black. With what’s left in the open here he should comfortably take the frame out, and this is looking worrying for Mark.

Mark plays a good safety with the white behind the green, cutting off the right side of the table. Joe can’t connect to a thin red down the other side, and it’s a miss and four away. It’s really not happening for Mark though; he pots a red and goes into a cluster by the pink, landing on said ball, but he can’t drop it into the left middle. That’s left Joe with a golden chance to win a fourth frame in a row.

What a shot this is to start frame eight, as Joe makes a double to the bottom left, and lands on the pink. Reds moved around on that shot, and although the black is currently tied up there are some points on here again for Joe. He gets to 19, swinging the white around the angles off the blue, but fails to land on a red so it’s end of break.

Joe takes frame ball red to the bottom right, and the black follows to make it certain. Mark is in a bit of bother here, and needs to get a frame on the board before this session concludes. Back at the table, Joe is having some fun. He’s in a lovely rhythm here, and empties the table once more for a break of 101. This is some debut so far.

Just like that, things change; Joe misses an awkward cut to the right middle, and the white goes in off in the opposite pocket. Can Mark take advantage? No he can’t; he misses a long red from the D by a mile and he’s left Joe right in again. Mark looks very cold at the table right now, as Joe takes his score to over 50 in the frame with a blue to left middle; the ensuing cannon into the reds near the pink leaves one to the left middle, and he’s looking good again.

A poor safety from Joe leaves Mark a mid-range red to bottom left, but he can’t convert it. Joe tags the red in instead, but only just; the red uses all of the bottom left pocket before dropping, but he’s on the pink and soon motoring again. If he can win another one here he’ll be assured of a lead when the match resumes tomorrow. The break reaches 30 as he goes into the pack off the black, but it leaves only a long red to the green pocket. It’s a tough shot but Joe creams it in to hold for the yellow, a superb shot and a sign of a player in great touch.

That’s a big steal from Joe, as he dishes up to the pink for a 67 to go two in front. He’s warming to his task here, and visibly growing in confidence.

In reaching 37 Joe loses the white a little, leaving himself a tough pink to get on the final red. It needs the cue extension and the rest, and Joe tags it in superbly. He’s high again on the final red but glides it in and lands perfect on the green. That goes, and if he clears up to the blue Selby would need a snooker.

Mark quickly opens the six reds below the pink. It’s a frame-winning chance now, but he misses a red to left middle off the bottom knuckle and it’s served Joe a gift chance to get right back in this. All eight remaining reds are in the wide open, and he starts making hay. Sensibly, Joe is taking his time with this; it’s a real chance to establish the first two frame lead of the day.

A careless shot from Joe here, as he rolls deadweight into the pack but leaves a red on to bottom left. Mark jabs it in, the pink follows and now this is a chance. The black is out of commission but blue and pink are available, with two loose reds also up in the baulk area. Mark goes up for them, but an awful positional shot leaves him on neither. No matter; he pulls out a superb recovery red to bottom left to hold for the pink, and he’s back in control.

Joe’s in first in frame six, hosing a beauty of a red into the bottom right from distance. The blue follows but he can’t force it around the angles enough to land on another red, so plays safe back to baulk. After some tap and nudge safety on the pack leads to a stalemate, the players agree a re-rack. When we resume it’s Mark that gets in first with a red-blue, which he then follows with a tough red to bottom right despite the white being welded to the side cushion. It’s gone the way of the pear now though as Mark misses the black off its spot and send reds flying; when the table settles he’s so fortunate to leave nothing.

The break moves to 68 as Joe drops a red into the right middle, and he then plays a run through on the blue to come off one cushion and split the remaining three reds away from the pink. That’s a superb shot, and the frame is one. Now able to relax, Joe lets his arm go a little to empty the table for a superb 122 that puts him back in front. ‘A really outstanding break for me,’ says Fouldsy in co-comms, and so say all of us.

A quick update on events on the other table, Jak Jones leads Zhang Anda 7-3.

Joe plays a nice shot here, potting the black and sending the white into two reds left of the pink, which turns this into a frame-winning chance as they split perfectly. A pink brings up his half-century and he’s looking good to take the lead again here.

We’re back and Mark’s in first in frame five, and makes a quick 16 before losing position when a cannon on a red doesn’t work out. Joe then floats in a beautiful deadweight red from the D to hold for the black. He quickly takes the lead in the frame and the reds are set very nicely here if he can stay in position.

Joe gets a red down but can’t follow it with the pink, and that should be curtains for the frame. Two reds and blues put Mark over the winning line, and a red down the rail with the rest makes sure. The green doesn’t go thereafter but Joe concedes, and we’re all square at the interval.

We’ll be back in 15 minutes. In the meantime, here’s Angles and the Wind on a player who could be a world champion very soon.

After losing position slightly Mark recovers with a superbly controlled red to bottom left at pace, coming off two cushions to land perfectly on the blue. The break is done on 49 though as he loses position again, and with a healthy lead Mark opts to put the brown safe.

This is crackling along at a decent lick. At the start of frame four some attacking safety opens the table up immediately, and Joe gambles the lot on a long red to bottom left that doesn’t drop, and Mark gets in with a red cut fine into the left middle. It’s a dangerous table; the black has drifted slightly out of play but pink and blue are on, so there’s a sizeable break on for Mark here if he can keep the white on a leash. He gets to work and there’s 26 on the board already.

There goes the frame, as Joe calmly adds 40 to retake the lead.

After five reds and blacks Joe is forced to go up the table off his sixth red. It leaves a tough blue to the green pocket, and he can’t convert it so his break abruptly ends on 41. Mark responds with a superb red to bottom left to land on the blue, off which he drives the white into the pack. It’s an awful split though, leaving only a taxing red to bottom left which he fails to plug. Back comes Joe though, potting a testing red and black, and he’s back in position to take the frame.

It’s another safety exchange to open frame three, in which Joe forces an error from Mark and gets a good look at a mid-range red to bottom right. Joe drives it in and, despite finishing low on the black, calmly glides that into the same pocket. Control of the cue ball is eluding him in this break though and he’s soon forced into using the swan rest to bridge over the pack and get to a red to bottom right. It’s an awkward shot but he jabs it in to land on the black, and now he’s in prime position.

Sure enough Mark soon puts the frame to bed, with a break of 60 bringing things level in the match.

Joe could be punished here, as he misses his starter red and leaves it on for Mark. The red disappears and Mark drives through the pack off the black, leaving a cut on a red to bottom left with the full set of cue extensions. It’s a delicate shot but Mark drops it in to hold for the black, making him a massive favourite for the frame. The break moves to 22 and counting, and he’s only a few balls away now.

A long safety exchange opens frame two, before Mark sweeps in a long red and comes off two cushions to land on the black. There’s a fair bit in the open here after all that safety, and after three reds and blacks to start, Mark takes a red-blue combo to nix any hopes of a maximum. Humbug! We may well see the first big break of the day though, this frame could be taken out in one visit. As sure as night follows day, Mark then finishes high on a red and misses it to bottom left, ending his break on 38.

Here’s a big chance for Joe. Mark misses a thin snick safety, and on his second attempt leaves the red as a thin cut to bottom right. Joe slices it in and lands on the blue, and surely he sees it home from here. Up to and including the brown will do it and Joe does indeed do that, but Mark will play on after Joe misses the blue. Not for long though; Mark puts the blue and then flukes the pink, which ends the frame in Joe’s favour.

On the final one of the open reds Joe misses it virtually straight to the bottom left, and he’s left it on to the left middle. In steps Mark, who mops it up followed by the blue and then lands behind of the final to reds near the cushion. He takes it on with the full set of rest extensions, but it rattles out of the jaws and he’s left it on. Joe takes that, then blue, but opts out of a difficult final red down the rail to play safe.

Mark opens the bunch, stunning a red in to the left middle and glancing the pack as he does so. That leaves him low on the black, and he doesn’t cut it enough to the bottom left and it rattles out. What a chance now for Joe; a good spread of reds, and a chance to settle in to this. He’s put 20 up in reply already, but with the black and two reds out of contention it’ll be tough to turn this into a frame winning visit.

Joe misses a long bash at a red from the D, and he’s left Mark a near straight jab at a long red to green pocket. In it goes, and Mark’s on the black and away. There are a few loose reds around so Mark starts picking them off, and this is a nice, rhythmic start from him.

Our MC Rob Walker introduces boys and baize, and we’re off.

Zhang Anda and Jak Jones resume their match on the other table, with Jak 5-2 in front. We’ll keep you informed.

Mark’s fellow Leicester player has been on the rise for a little while now. Joe’s ranking is up to 31 in the world and he’s reached the semi-finals of the Welsh Open and the final of the Scottish Open. He is the only debutant at the Crucible this year, and beat Matthew Selt to qualify.

Even now I’m still not sure Mark Selby gets the credit he deserves. In the most competitive era of the sport, he’s been the most dominant player post the Class of 92; four worlds, nine grand slams, 22 ranking titles, 820 tons and five maximums. His narrow defeat to Luca Brecel last year was his fifth Crucible final in ten years, and he still decorated it with the first ever 147 in final history. Mark is some player and if the wider world doesn’t know just how good, the sport does.

Feeling fresh? Good stuff. Here we go then with day two of the 2024 World Snooker Championship. We had some shift yesterday, with defending champion Luca Brecel stunned by a late comeback from David Gilbert and beaten 10-9. Let’s see what today brings, and it’s Crucible royalty in the house first up; four-time world champion Mark Selby takes on Joe O’Conner shortly, and we’ll follow every frame of this first session

Luca Brecel was sent spinning out of the World Championship 10-9 in the first round as David Gilbert won the final four frames to ensure the Crucible curse of first-time defending champions continued.

No first-time winner has ever defended the title in the Crucible era, with a host of star names such as Steve Davis and Neil Robertson crashing out at the first hurdle 12 months on.

Brecel looked well set to avoid that after taking a 6-3 lead in the first session, and moving 9-6 ahead on Saturday evening.

That lead was a flattering one for the Belgian, as his form dipped alarmingly and he enjoyed huge slices of luck.

But he was unable to close out the match and Gilbert kept chipping away before producing his best passage of play at the business end to seal a thrilling win.

• Mark Selby 2-7 Joe O’Connor
• Zhang Anda 4-10 Jak Jones

• Shaun Murphy 0-0 Lyu Haotian
• Judd Trump 6-3 Hossein Vafaei

• Ali Carter 5-4 Stephen Maguire
• Tom Ford v Ricky Walden