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World Snooker Championship 2022 - Mark Selby leads Jamie Jones at interval, Zhao Xintong in control against Jamie Clarke

Mark Selby showed glimpses of his best to lead Jamie Jones 6-3 following the afternoon session of their World Snooker Championship first-round encounter at the Crucible. Defending champion Selby fell behind after a rusty start but, once he found his rhythm, simply had too much for 34-year-old Jones who missed a massive chance to level the score at 3-3, but now faces an uphill battle in the evening session on Saturday. Ad/> Underdog Jones put together a break of 24 in the first frame but could go no further after failing to split the pack.

Mark Selby shakes off slow start to title defence to build lead over Jamie Jones

Mark Selby shrugged off a sluggish start to establish a 6-3 lead over qualifier Jamie Jones in the opening session of the World Snooker Championship in Sheffield.

World Championship snooker: Can Ronnie O'Sullivan keep world No. 1 spot after predicting 'carnage' for Crucible seeds?

Ronnie O’Sullivan goes into the 46th World Championship at the Crucible Theatre as snooker's leading player, but what does he have to do to keep the coveted world No. 1 spot? The 38-time ranking event winner replaced world champion Mark Selby at the top of the rankings earlier this month despite losing 10-9 to Neil Robertson in an epic semi-final at the Tour Championship in Llandudno. Ad/> Yet it could be a short-lived return to the summit with O'Sullivan needing to pull off a record-equalling seventh world title on Monday 2 May to have any chance of retaining the position at the end of the season.

World Snooker Championship 2022: Mark Selby, Ronnie O’Sullivan in action on blockbuster opening day

The 46th running of the World Championship at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield begins with defending champion Mark Selby getting things underway at 10:00. He faces Jamie Jones on table 1 while Zhao Xintong takes on Jamie Clarke on table 2. The afternoon session – starting at 14:30 — is headlined by Ronnie O’Sullivan, who faces Dave Gilbert.

Mark Selby says has no World Championship expectations amid mental health battle

Mark Selby says winning a fifth world snooker title at the Crucible this year would rank as the greatest achievement of his career in light of his ongoing mental health battle.

'You're not in the conversation mate' – Ronnie O'Sullivan on snooker GOAT debate ahead of World Championship

Self-praise is no praise. Ronnie O'Sullivan has listened to various self-proclamations of greatness over the past 30 years, but feels his foes from yesteryear and the modern day must achieve a unique longevity and level of dominance to support their right to be taken seriously.

'I was emotionless' - Mark Selby says depression took joy away from World Championship win in 2016

Mark Selby has said that snooker seems «irrelevant right now» as he prepares to defend his World Championship title at the Crucible. Selby has opened up about his mental health struggles and battle with depression in recent months, and the impact that has had on his career over the past six years. Ad/> Selby won at the Crucible last year for the fourth time, adding to titles in 2014, 2016 and 2017.

2022 World Snooker Championship: Everything you need to know about the BBC-televised event

The showpiece event in the snooker calendar kicks off this weekend with the world's best players set to compete for the £500,000 prize.

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Mark Selby Sport News

World Snooker Championship 2022 - Mark Selby leads Jamie Jones at interval, Zhao Xintong in control against Jamie Clarke

Mark Selby shakes off slow start to title defence to build lead over Jamie Jones

World Championship snooker: Can Ronnie O'Sullivan keep world No. 1 spot after predicting 'carnage' for Crucible seeds?

World Snooker Championship 2022: Mark Selby, Ronnie O’Sullivan in action on blockbuster opening day

Mark Selby says has no World Championship expectations amid mental health battle

'You're not in the conversation mate' – Ronnie O'Sullivan on snooker GOAT debate ahead of World Championship

'I was emotionless' - Mark Selby says depression took joy away from World Championship win in 2016

2022 World Snooker Championship: Everything you need to know about the BBC-televised event