Stephen Hendry is just two short of 600 century breaks

Stephen Hendry is just two short of reaching 600 career centuries after easing past Mark Selby in the first round of the Citywest Irish Masters on Monday.

Hendry's 5-2 win included runs of 125 and 108 to bring his career century total up to 598.

The 34-year-old Scot's achievement is made even more remarkable by the fact that his nearest challenger, Ronnie O'Sullivan, is languishing in second place on 318, with Steve Davis third on 290.

"It would be nice if the 600th came in my next match but the main thing is winning and the breaks will take of themselves," said Hendry.

"I do not really want to know what the figure is because I do not want to be twitching."

Selby, 19, was responsible for one of the greatest upsets of last season when he beat Hendry 5-1 in the China Open in Shanghai.

But after winning a scrappy first frame, he was convincingly shut out of the match and a repeat victory never looked likely.

Six-time Crucible runner-up Jimmy White went down 5-1 to LG Cup champion Chris Small.

It was White's sixth successive first-round defeat in ranking tournaments.

"I didn't get involved in the match, but I'll keep punching," said White.

"I could have been 3-1 up at the interval - but I could also have been 4-0 down.

"Chris is very competitive these days and you have always got to play well against him. But tonight I didn't compete.

Small next faces the winner of Tuesday's game between Stephen Lee and Steve Davis, whose return to the top 16 is all but guaranteed.

Essex qualifier Ali Carter secured a 5-3 victory over Essex left-hander Mark King.

He now faces newly crowned European Open champion Ronnie O'Sullivan or Stuart Bingham.

Joe Perry, the world number 13, reached the last 16 in impressive style, compiling breaks of 96, 54, 77 and 66 in defeating Nick Dyson 5-1.

Earlier in the day, defending champion John Higgins failed to impress as he booked his place in the quarter-finals with a 5-2 win over England's Robert Milkins.

The former world champion made top breaks of just 60 and 55 during a low-key performance.

'Pretty shocking'

The 27-year-old Glaswegian has yet to reach a quarter-final in a ranking event this season.

"It was pretty shocking really, I did not play well at all," Higgins admitted.

Matthew Stevens, another top player who has struggled this season, reached the second round with a 5-2 victory over gritty Scot Drew Henry.

World number 12 Graeme Dott became the first member of the elite top 16 to bow out when he was beaten 5-1 by his fellow Scot Jamie Burnett.