Four-time world champion Mark Selby prevailed over Matthew Selt 10-8 despite a spirited comeback to advance to the second round of the World Championship.
The second-ranked player in the world had a 6-3 lead at the end of the first set in Sheffield, but he was forced to work hard for the victory as qualifier Selt battled back to 9-8.
But the Englishman Selby, who won the Crucible in 2021, fought hard to advance.
Selby remarked to BBC Sport, “I felt as though my concentration was nonexistent.”
“At one point, I was coasting, but one minute of inattention is all it takes for this game to strike back.
“When under pressure, you can always yield here. At 9-8, I was not having fun, so I was relieved that my game held up under duress.
“I felt like I was only awake during the final frame. I was impressed with how well I maintained my composure.”
Selt, 38, had to win two qualifying matches to qualify for snooker’s annual blue riband tournament. In the final session, he made a high break of 74 and won some sloppy frames to bring himself within one frame of forcing a decider.
With breaks of 73, 57, 56, 55, and 112 in the deciding session, Selby, a 22-time winner of a ranking event, was able to close out the match.
A disappointed Selt said: “I committed several unforced errors, which ultimately cost me.
“I got off to a disastrous start, so it will be difficult for me to recover against Mark.”
Mark Williams, a three-time world champion, and Luca Brecel, a qualifier, are tied 4-4 after the first set of their second-round match.
Welshman Williams led 3-1 with breaks of 113, 68, and 55, but Brecel won four of the next five frames with the highest break of 103 and two half century breaks, leaving the best-of-25 frame match in a deadlock.
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I’m a simple mark – O’Sullivan
Ronnie O’Sullivan, the defending champion, claims he is a “easy target” for criticism before his grudge match with Hossein Vafaei on Friday.
This season, ‘Rocket’ intends to create history by becoming the first player in modern times to win eight world titles.
However, his opponent in the second round, Vafaei, made fun of the world number one by stating that O’Sullivan was “a nice person when he’s asleep.”
Last year, Vafaei urged O’Sullivan to retire, and the seven-time world champion replied, “Don’t upset my cage.”
O’Sullivan, speaking on Thursday, stated: “Sometimes I need someone to doubt me or query whether I can still complete the task, because it motivates me.
“I like having something to prove. I don’t take it personally and instead use it as motivation.
“It’s a difficult job, and we’re all doing our best, so I have no animosity towards anyone.
“I don’t take offence to it. I’ve had it since I was a high school sophomore, as well as during my amateur and early professional years. It has followed me throughout my entire career.
“I believe, however, that I am somewhat of an accessible target. If I conduct an interview about my own game, they [journalists] will select something from it to use as a headline.
“Generally, if I’m not participating, they’ll ask other players what they think of what I’ve said, and the interview will consist of them discussing me. I cannot really triumph.
