World Championship Snooker: Michael Wasley shocks Ding Junhui in first round
World Championship debutant Michael Wasley sprang a major surprise as he beat world No 2 Ding Junhui in the first round.
Last Updated: 22/04/14 7:53am
On his first Crucible appearance, the 24-year-old Gloucester potter prevailed 10-9 against China's great title hope after a breathtaking and hastily arranged third session which finished after midnight.
They had been forced to go off with Ding leading 9-8 as the afternoon session ran over its allocated time, and an inspired Wasley seized the moment at the climax to the match, levelling with an impeccable 103 break and holding his nerve in an ultra tense 19th frame.
Two-time UK Champion and 2010 Masters champion Ding had been seeded to meet Ronnie O'Sullivan in the semi-finals, but now one of the defending champion's main obstacles has been removed.
He might yet run into Wasley, who belied his inexperience and world ranking of 73 to beat a man who has won five major ranking titles this season, tying a record set by Stephen Hendry over two decades ago.
Wasley sealed his win on the pink in the decider, and showed his delight as he pumped his fist.
Selby edges White
There was another dramatic finale earlier in the evening session as Mark Selby edged through to the second round with a nail-biting 10-9 win over Michael White.
Selby, who finished runner-up at the Crucible in 2007, led his Welsh opponent 3-0, 5-1 and 8-4 but White fought back to level 9-9 and take the match to a deciding frame.
It was Selby though who held his nerve at the death, making a break of 57 to take the decider and seal his place in the next round.
Four-time champion John Higgins faces a fight to stay in the tournament as he trails Alan McManus 6-3 after the opening session.
McManus, who had beaten another former champion Mark Williams in the final qualifying round, lost the opening frame but came to win the next six in a row with commanding breaks of 87 and 74 along the way.
Higgins hauled himself back into the contest by winning the last two frames but has an uphill task to progress when he continues on Tuesday morning.
Joe Perry won six consecutive frames to come from 6-3 down to beat Joe Burnett 10-7.
Breaks of 87, 55, 70, 51 and finally 81, ensured Perry's passage to the next round.
