King sends Selby packing

Mark Selby crashed out of the 888.com World Championship in the first round, beaten 10-8 by Mark King.

Selby, last year's beaten finalist, arrived at the Crucible heavily fancied after a stellar 12 months that has included victories at the Masters and Welsh Open.

The Leicester potter began Tuesday morning's second session with a 5-4 lead, but promptly lost four in a row to fall 8-5 behind in the best-of-19 match.

He gave himself renewed hope by taking a tactical 14th and then pulled back within one frame at 8-7 courtesy of a 108 break.

But King responded immediately with a superb 116 that took him to the brink of victory and - after Selby again reduced his deficit to one - sealed a 10-8 success with a run of 71.

Disappointing

"It's a little bit disappointing but I don't think over the two days I've really performed," admitted Selby.

"Take nothing away from Mark, every time he got a chance he punished me.

"Over the two days I think he was the better player and deserved to win.

"I've had a great season and won two tournaments so I can't complain but obviously it's a shame not to be able to come back here and do well."

World number 21 King's reward is a second-round meeting with Peter Ebdon and the Romford cueman feels he is hitting form at just the right time.

"The first couple of tournaments I couldn't make 20 but it's all coming together now," said King, who beat Jimmy White in the final qualifying round to make it to Sheffield.

"It's pleasing to go out there and play really solid for once. When I got a chance I punished him.

"In the final frame my heart was going 700mph but I told myself if I stayed still on the shot I wouldn't miss anything easy."

Ding pegged back

Meanwhile on the other table, Ding Junhui claimed a 5-4 lead after the opening session of his first-round match against Marco Fu.

It could have been much better for the 21-year-old after he raced 5-1 ahead, including breaks of 113, 87 and 99.

But Fu stopped the rot with a contribution of 78 and finished the session in style with consecutive centuries - 103 and 100 - to leave the contest intriguingly poised ahead of its conclusion on Tuesday evening.