Mark Selby happy with form in UK Championship

UK Snooker Championship
Venue: Telford International Centre Date: 4-12 December
Coverage: Live action and highlights on BBC Two and BBC Red Button; updates and reports on BBC Radio 5 live and live coverage on this website.
Full details of BBC coverage

Selby said he found his best form of the season in the win over Walden

Mark Selby says he is pleased with his form after an impressive 9-6 victory over Ricky Walden in the first round of the UK Championship in Telford.

The Leicester cueman was forced to fight hard before showing his quality in the final session, winning five of the evening's seven frames to progress.

Selby told BBC Sport: "My form has been OK. I've been reasonably consistent and coming here I was quite confident.

"But that is probably the best standard I've played consistently all season."

Walden started brilliantly but three successive half-centuries helped world number six Selby establish a 4-3 lead.

And although Walden levelled at 4-4, Selby dominated the evening session and is now setting his sights on winning the trophy in Telford.

"It's obviously difficult with it being a long format," Selby acknowledged.

"It's very similar to the world championship and to go on and win it - for the prestige of it being second only to the world - would be a great achievement."

Selby faces Scotland's Stephen Maguire in the second round.