Huge upset.
Mark Selby’s hopes of clinching a third successive World Championship came crashing down after falling to a 10-4 defeat in his first-round match with Joe Perry.
After a disastrous opening session left him trailing 7-2, Selby was unable to roar back in the evening session as Perry humbled the two-time defending champion.
Perry, 43, recorded impressive breaks of 59, 84 and 109 to clinch three frames in a row and surge into a 7-2 lead after the first session and put on a fine exhibition of break-building on Saturday evening to send the world number one crashing out.
HUGE upset!#ilovesnooker @Betfred pic.twitter.com/IeL7o7dFjx
— WST (@WeAreWST) April 21, 2018
“I’m delighted, I’m chuffed,” Perry said. “When the draw came out it’s one of your two worst nightmares. I knew I had to perform and I did for the most part.”
“I didn’t want to show off when I won. It must be horrible (for Selby). I’ve got too much respect for him to go over the top and it’s just a nice win. It’s up there with my best definitely.
“When you beat the world number one, world champion, in any tournament it’s a great feeling. To do it at the Crucible makes it even more special.”
"It's up there."@joegentlemanjoe says his 10-4 triumph over defending champ Mark Selby is one of the biggest of his career, and hopes he's saved the best till last this season 💬#ilovesnooker @Betfred pic.twitter.com/tIcFMyxgEJ
— WST (@WeAreWST) April 21, 2018
