Selby stunned in Telford

Lee: Hendry scalp

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Stephen Lee took out five-time winner Stephen Hendry in the first round of the UK Championship, where Mark Williams enjoyed a fine victory over Mark Selby.

Lee and Williams both enjoyed confidence-boosting 9-7 victories against the more-fancied opponents in two big results in the first round of the tournament in Telford.

The tie of the first round went the way of two-time world champion Williams, with the Welsh left-hander dumping the Masters champion out.

Williams led 5-3 after the first session and moved on to 7-3, before Selby showed his style with three centuries, including a 139, helping him to level at 7-7.

It was Williams, who is battling to get back into the top 16, who stayed strong and got back on the table to take the next two frames and a place in round two.

Hendry out

World number six Hendry won the 1989 UK title and defended it 12 months later, before taking three in a row from 1994 to 1996, but his run this year ended at the first hurdle.

"It's hard to pot balls when there's chaos inside my head," said a dejected Hendry.

"I know what causes it but I'm not going to tell you.

"People talk about how good the standard is but if I got 30 percent of my old form back, I'd be competing."

Trowbridge potter Lee hit a crucial century break in the 15th frame to go 8-7 in front, and he held his nerve to take the next and send Hendry packing.

Lee had been mulling over quitting snooker after the World Championship, but now he has rediscovered his love for the game.

"I've started to enjoy it again," he said. "To beat Stephen, I'm over the moon.

"Enjoyment is what it's all about. I wouldn't do it if I didn't like it. I would have probably found something else to do with myself."

Round-up

Teenager Judd Trump's UK Championship experience ended in the first round, but only after a tense final frame against Mark King.

King came through 9-8 against Bristol's Trump, to keep his hopes of clinging on to a top 16 place alive.

Hong Kong's Marco Fu had no such trouble in his first round match as he comfortably disposed of Barry Hawkins 9-6.

In the later matches, beaten finalist 12 months ago and former winner Stephen Maguire stormed into a 6-2 lead after the first session of his match with Jamie Burnett.

Fellow Scot John Higgins was locked at 4-4 after his opening session against Joe Swail, and the two-time former UK champion knows he is in a fight for a place in the second round.

Recent Bahrain Championship winner Neil Robertson was also all square at 4-4 with Michael Holt, while Andrew Higginson opened up a 5-3 lead over 2006 winner Peter Ebdon.