'That’s why he’s world champion' - Mark Selby wins Snooker Shoot Out opener, Jack Lisowski through, Reanne Evans out

World No. 1 Mark Selby beat Li Hang to book his place in the second round of the Snooker Shoot Out. A little under a week after revealing he was battling with his mental health and would be seeking help, Selby turned out in his home city for snooker’s highest-octane event.

Ad/> He was given a warm reception, and he delighted his fans by getting over the line — albeit narrowly. The MastersSelby 'no longer hiding behind the mask' after admitting to mental health struggle16/01/2022 AT 16:04 Going to be a top-16 player — White dazzled by Stan Moody Bozhilova flying high despite O'Sullivan showing 'no mercy' There appeared to be little signs of the drama to come as Selby got in and confidently knocked in a break of 38 to assume control. Later in the frame, with a shade over four minutes on the clock, Selby missed a red to hand a chance to his opponent.

Li dramatically put 38 points on the board to raise the prospect of a shoot out on the blue. But Selby got a shot at a red with the clock ticking down and he rolled it into the bottom left to secure safe passage to round two. “That’s why he’s world champion and world No.

1,” Jimmy White said in the Eurosport studio of Selby. “He got to the final last year, he’s got it covered and knows what to do at the right times." Mark Williams eased into the second round with a comfortable 59-1 win over Stuart Carrington. The former world champion bided his time for an opening, but when it came a break of 39 proved decisive.