World Snooker Championship
Date: 18 April-4 May Venue: Crucible Theatre, Sheffield
Coverage: Live coverage each day on BBC Two, BBC Red Button and BBC Sport website (UK only), updates on BBC Radio 5 Live. Full TV schedule

Video - Selby on form against Walden

Mark Selby cruised into the second round of the World Championship with a 10-6 victory over Ricky Walden.

Englishman Selby, a runner-up in 2007, recorded three century breaks, including one in the final frame, on the way to victory at the Crucible.

The world number four, who is among the bookmakers' favourites for the title, will face 2006 champion Graeme Dott in round two.

Joe Perry leads fellow Englishman Jamie Cope 5-4 after the first session.

And in the all-Chinese clash between Ding Junhui and Liang Wenbo , Ding leads 5-4 after the first session.

Selby said after his victory: "I've been playing well and hopefully I can have a good run."

Selby won the first frame on Sunday, and led 6-3 overnight. He never trailed in an entertaining clash with the Shanghai Open champion and world number 35.

Englishman Walden contributed with breaks of 90 and 100 on the way to defeat.

"I knew it was going to be a tough game as Ricky is a fine player and showed that by winning a ranking tournament in October," Selby told BBC Sport.

"When you get through to the second week you feel you are part of the tournament and that is my aim this year."

The clash between Ding and Liang was reportedly being watched by 100 million people in their homeland.

World number 11 Ding narrowly led despite frame-winning breaks of 95 and 90 from Liang, with play set to resume on Tuesday morning (1000 BST).

In the match between Perry and Cope, the former made the high break of the session with 110 in the eighth frame.

But Cope dug deep for an 81 in the last of the night to ensure he remains in the match, which resumes on Tuesday at 1430 BST.

Video - Walden's great escape

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version