Perry and Selby march on

Perry: unbeaten start

Also see

• Snooker Schedule
• World Rankings
• Snooker DVDs

Joe Perry maintained his 100 per cent start to the Party Poker Premier League with a 4-2 victory over six-time world champion Steve Davis.

Londoner Perry beat world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan 4-2 in his opener in Basingstoke and was again in impressive form at the Derby Assembly Rooms.

His two wins mean he needs just three more points to guarantee a place in the semi-finals.

'The Nugget' was far from his best but managed to nick the first frame despite an initail 45 from Perry.

The next four frames belonged to 'Gentleman Joe'. He should have had a century - and a £1,000 bonus - in edging ahead 2-1 but his break in the third frame ended on 67.

A 55 run in the next put him 3-1 ahead. He looked to have blown the fifth frame when he missed a simple brown, but Davis could not capitalise, overcutting the final blue and giving Perry the chance to clear.

Consolation

That sealed the match and the final frame was just a consolation for the Romford veteran as he made breaks of 29 and 65 - his best of the night.

Perry told Sky Sports: "I was really nervous again tonight but the nerves are good for me. They kept me on my toes throughout the game."

In the evening's second match, Mark Selby also maintained his unbeaten start to his first Premier League campaign, beating an out-of-sorts Steven Hendry 5-1.

The Leicester potter had breaks of 59, 74 and 50 in moving 4-0 clear to secure the points, before a late rally from the seven-time world champion.

But Selby got the two snookers he needed to snatch the final frame and that means he leap-frogs fellow debutant Perry to go top of the early standings.