Wuxi Classic: Mark Selby cruises into second round in China
Last Updated: 24/06/14 6:10pm
World No 1 Mark Selby beat Robbie Williams 5-1 to advance into the second round of the Wuxi Classic at the Wuxi City Sports Park Stadium in China.
The world champion took the opening frame with ease before a break of 64 saw him stretch his lead to 2-0.
Williams did not get to the table in the third as a polished break of 123 saw Selby take a 3-0 lead, but he hit back in the fourth with a break of 32 clinching the frame to reduce the arrears to 3-1.
Selby, winner of the 2011 event, ensured his opponent's comeback was short-lived by taking the fifth frame courtesy of a 60 break and he wrapped up the match with a break of 54 to secure a one-sided victory.
He faces home favourite Liang Wenbo in the second round after he too had little difficulty seeing off Jamie Burnett 5-1, with two century breaks reflecting his superiority over the 38-year-old Scot.
Barry Hawkins made short work of Lee Page, with breaks of 60, 69 and 80 allowing the world No 5 to race into a 3-0 lead. The 35-year-old Kent cueman went on to win the next two frames to win 5-0 and set up a second-round clash against Yan Bingatao, who beat Barry Pinches 5-1.
World No 7 Shaun Murphy strolled to victory against fellow Englishman Rod Lawler, winning the first three frames on the way to a 5-1 victory. He meets Chris Wakelin in the second round after he overcame Joe O'Connor 5-2.
Mark Williams found it similarly easy to progress, overcoming Mark Joyce 5-1 courtesy of breaks of 70 in the second frame, 57 in the fourth and 62 in the sixth. He next meets Ryan Day, who consigned Matthew Selt to a 5-0 defeat.
Emphatic victory
Joe Perry joined Hawkins and Day in not dropping a frame in beating Chen Zifan, with a break of 84 in the fifth capping off an emphatic victory. Perry will face Robert Milkins for a place in the third round after he edged past Ireland's David Morris 5-4.
Graeme Dott fought off a spirited fightback from Zhou Yuelong to win 5-3. The 37-year-old Scot takes on Finland's Robin Hull in the next round.
Ken Doherty was dumped out of the tournament at the first hurdle, losing 5-2 to Jamie Jones, who sets up a second-round showdown with Marco Fu.
Jack Lisowski ended Lyu Chenwei's interest in the tournament with a 5-2 win, Zhao Xintong overcame Chris Melling 5-1, while Michael White and Stephen Maguire enjoyed 5-3 victories over Jamie Cope and David Gilbert respectively.
Elsewhere, Oliver Brown beat Oliver Lines 5-1 and Martin Gould defeated Michael Tomlinson by the same scoreline.
Meanwhile, Defending champion Robertson was handed a bye into the second round after Switzerland's Alexander Ursenbacher failed to secure a visa and could not compete in their first-round encounter.
Robertson's first match of this tournament will therefore be against Michael Georgiou in the second round.
