World Snooker Championship 2024 results: Jak Jones beats Zhang Anda, Mark Selby trails Joe O’Connor

Selby, the 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2021 champion, could be another seed to fall after a tough first session against fellow Leicester player and close friend O’Connor.

That match will be completed on Monday (14:30 BST) with O’Connor, the only debutant in this year’s tournament, looking to complete a huge victory.

O’Connor was in the audience watching and cheering on Selby for three of his world title wins and described the draw as a “dream” one for him.

The pair shared the first four frames, before breaks of 122, 67 and 101 took O’Connor three frames clear. Further breaks of 74 and 61 saw the 28-year-old win all of the last five frames in the session.

Earlier this month, 40-year-old Selby hinted at retiring and said it’s “maybe time to do something else” after losing 10-8 to Gary Wilson in the first round of the Tour Championship.

Selby lost in last year’s world final and has not been eliminated in the first round since 2018, but needs a superb recovery on Monday.