World Snooker Championship 2022 LIVE: Mark Selby back in action after Ronnie O’Sullivan dominates David Gilbert

ByEurosport

Updated 16/04/2022 at 21:48 GMT

The 46th running of the World Championship at the Crucible in Sheffield is here. Mark Selby begins the defence of his crown at 10:00 BST with a best-of-19 encounter against Jamie Jones over two sessions. Ronnie O’Sullivan also makes his bow on Saturday, facing off against Dave Gilbert from 14:00 BST. The World Snooker Championship 2022 will be available on Eurosport and discovery+.

'I've seen it all now!' - Fluke of the century by Gilbert against McLeod

That's us for the evening

They're coming to a close on the other table, where Stephen Maguire now leads Shaun Murphy 6-2.

World Championship

O'Sullivan wraps up win over Day to reach quarter-finals

00:02:25

15 hours ago

We'll conclude our coverage there, and return at 9.45am tomorrow for the conclusion of the match between Zhao Xintong and Jamie Clarke.

Mark Selby is through to the Second Round

Mark's had some time away from the table recently, and it showed; we also saw touches of his very best in patches, most notably in his heavy scoring and creative safety play. He had to fight for that one, and no mistake; Jamie admirably made a real fight of it from 8-3 down but never really got his A game going to take the argument all the way. A cracking, absorbing end to day one. In the Eurosport studio Mark imparts how emotional today has been for him, and you could see his relief at getting through today. It's a moving interview, he talks about the loss of his father at a young age and never having processed it until now. What an admirably candid way to talk about the issues he's been facing, and what an inspiration to us all.

Mark will now return on Friday to play either Yan Bingtao or Chris Wakelin.

Selby 10-7 Jones

Mark's safety tells again, as from the ensuing snooker Jamie misses in his escape, goes in-off and gives up a free ball as a result; the worst outcome, and this one is surely done. Mark applies the necessary points, exhaling deeply with his hands on the table as frame ball red goes down. What a tussle it's been, but Mark, emptying the table up to the pink, advances.

Selby 9-7 Jones (53-30)

A nerveless red along the top cushion keeps Mark's break going, and on 26 he stuns in the black and brings the final red away from the pink. It was a full rather than half ball contact though, and Mark's not on it. We've had a lot of battles over the final few balls between these two today, and here comes another.

Selby 9-7 Jones (20-30)

Jamie gets another look as Mark again leaves a path to a red over the bottom left. He quickly accumulates 29, but when position goes west again he takes on a long blue to the yellow pocket, and he's missed it. Mark is in, and with a few canny positional shots this could be the visit that sorts frame and match.

Selby 9-7 Jones (20-1)

It's another chance for Jamie as Mark leaves a red over the bottom left at the start of frame 17. Jamie can just about get around the yellow to pot it, and does, but then misses the blue to the green pocket. As well as he's done to make a fight of it, he's needed multiple chances to win frames; how different this match might look had he been able to score as heavily as he is capable of. Mark's got a chance now, but in going into the pack to reach 20 he lands awkwardly and opts to go back to baulk.

Selby 9-7 Jones

Jamie's been winning frames in increments, and here's another. A break of 51 makes it 9-7; he needed four, he now needs three.

Selby 9-6 Jones (1-45)

A long, long safety exchange goes in Mark's favour, as he eventually forces an error from Jamie who spits a red out over the bottom left. Mark chokes it in - just - but can't follow up with a brown to the green pocket. This is a big chance for Jamie, and he quickly gets the black back on its spot.

Selby 9-6 Jones (0-32)

A containing safety from Mark goes awry, and he's left a red on to the right middle. That was probably tournament over had he missed, now he's got the chance to prolong the argument. Pretty quickly though he's in trouble, as he pots a red and plays through the bunch, without landing on a colour. Jamie can only play a containing safety of his own thereafter, and a good chance goes begging.

Selby 9-6 Jones (0-17)

Jamie now needs all four, and this is how to start; from Mark's break-off shot he glides in a long red and the white pulls up on the yellow. He can only make 17 though as he catches the brown when trying to go in and out of baulk, and it's end of break.when he can't convert a long red into the bottom right.

Selby 9-6 Jones

That's changed the complexion of the evening. Mark makes his third ton of the day, a brilliant total clearance of 137 to move within one frame of victory. Given the moment and the momentum, that's a huge visit.

Selby 8-6 Jones (58-0)

This is some response from Mark, who is giving this break everything. He picks off a red from behind the pink to free up two others, before just about hooking a pink into the left middle. He's only a few balls away now, and a one hit frame here will stop Jamie's revival in its tracks.

Selby 8-6 Jones (30-0)

Mark will feel better about this, as he drives in a long-ish red to the bottom left and comes up for the blue. It very quickly becomes a big scoring chance as he clears the route for the black to both corners, and he's amassed 30 and counting in no time, splitting the bunch off the black and landing on a red to bottom left.

On our other table, Maguire now leads Murphy 4-2.

Selby 8-6 Jones

It's twitchy stuff as Jamie lands bullet straight on the blue, and can only jab it in to leave a cut on the pink with the rest. It's for the frame, and he makes it! What a scrap he's making of this - he's won three on the spin!

Selby 8-5 Jones (48-37)

Mark's break ends suddenly, as he misses a straight pink to the bottom left. Jamie's in, and develops two reds immediately with his first pot. On 16 though he takes on a double to the left middle, and it rolls out off the knuckles. It's just not happening for Mark right now though, as he misses a red long to the yellow pocket and Jamie picks it off before playing a safety that forces a miss where Mark hits the black and leaves a free ball. Jamie takes it, potting the black for a point, and drops on the final red off the yellow. It's a tough one along the top rail... but it's in and he's on the green! If he can clear up to the pink he'll peg back one more...

Selby 8-5 Jones (39-9)

It's been a rough few frames for Mark, but he's steadying the ship here. A good pot on a red to bottom right opens up four others, and he's looking like he could pull away in this one. There are four reds in close proximity to cushions though, and he will need one of them.

Selby 8-5 Jones (9-9)

We're back, and Jamie gets his arm so far through a missed red at the start of frame 14 that it almost bounces off the table. He'll get a chance now though, as Mark misses a long drag shot on a red and leaves another on to the bottom right. It's a great chance, but Jamie blows it on nine by missing a routine black off its spot. Mark then gets in a few shots later, drilling a red into the bottom right to land on the black. One compliant nudge off the pack later, he's off and running.

Selby 8-5 Jones

Let's twist again as they say! Mark finds the perfect angle on the green, but has to play it with pace to get on the brown; he's rattled the pot out of the jaws of the green pocket and left it! Crikey. It's a tap-in for Jamie, who dishes to the pink and goes into the interval three frames behind!

It's been some evening so far, we'll see you in 15 to see how it plays out.

Selby 8-4 Jones (39-65)

Jamie leaves an awkward red to right middle as frame ball. It's tough, and he misses it off the knuckle and leaves it on to the bottom left. With 67 left on, Mark has a chance as all five remaining reds are near black and the one pink he can take to win it in one visit. Mark does precisely that, and goes up for the yellow; the green, on the top rail, is Jamie's only out here.

Selby 8-4 Jones (0-60)

He won't go quietly it seems. Jamie adds 45, but overshoots position on the blue and has to take on a tough cut on the yellow with the rest. He's nailed it though, with a red to follow, and he's only a few balls away from winning two frames on the spin.

Selby 8-4 Jones (0-21)

How do you follow that? Both players will need to settle down here, and Mark misses a long red at the start of frame 13 to leave a cut on for Jamie to the left middle. That goes, but Jamie can only register 12 from the chance. He gets a better one a few shots later though, and with the black and pink in open play to boot.

Selby 8-4 Jones

This is some arm wrestle on the final ball, with neither player offering a sniff for minutes and some textbook safety play. Jamie almost doubles the black into the yellow pocket by accident, leaving a brutally tough pot that Mark butchers...and the black is on as a cut to the bottom left! Can Jamie hold his nerve? It's like a budget version of Dennis Taylor's black...and he's potted it to take the frame, to huge cheers at the Crucible!

Selby 8-3 Jones (53-49)

Dramarama! Jamie pots the blue, goes all around the angles off the pink and then lands fortuitously on the black after catching the low knuckle of the right middle. It's the black for the frame...and he's rattled it our of the bottom right! My days, what a frame. It's a black ball finish folks!

Over on the other table, Maguire and Murphy head to the interval level at 2-2.

Selby 8-3 Jones (53-38)

Mark gets a look at blue to the yellow pocket, but can't convert it, nor a cut to the green pocket a few shots later. How about a double then? He takes one on to the left middle, but it catches the high knuckle and runs safe. After a good run of the balls, Mark's luck runs out as he catches a double kiss on the blue and leaves it on to the green pocket! Can Jamie dish here?

Selby 8-3 Jones (53-38)

Here's his chance, as Mark leaves the yellow to it's own pocket. Everything up to the pink is off its spot, but he's got a crack at it. The baulk colours go but Jamie can't get close enough to the blue to leave a pot, so it's a safety battle incoming on the final three.

Selby 8-3 Jones (53-29)

An excellent snooker from Mark, full ball in behind the blue on both reds, leaves Jamie a hit and hope. He hits a red, but hope disappears when he leaves the other on to the right middle. Two reds and pinks go, but Mark's left a long yellow to its own pocket and he's missed it! he's not got a look at a pot but Jamie's still a contender in this frame, and needs all the colours to steal it.

Selby 8-3 Jones (39-29)

Mark has an easy starter, and off the yellow quickly brings the pink, black and other reds into play. This is immediately a decent chance, and Jamie's lead is soon toast as Mark reaches 39, but a ropey positional shot fails to land him on a red down the right tail and we've still got a live one here. Mark can't believe that; his margin for error on the shot was huge.

On our other table, Stephen Maguire leads Shaun Murphy 2-1.

Selby 8-3 Jones (0-29)

Jamie snags another long red but with no colour to follow. A high quality safety exchange follows, with both players trying to get behind the green, and it's Jamie that succeeds and forces an error from Mark. Jamie is back in, but not for long as he's forced to take on a long blue to the yellow pocket and he's missed it.

Selby 8-3 Jones (0-15)

What has Jamie got left? He'll need at least one of the next two frames to extend the argument beyond the interval. This is more of what he needs; he clips in a long red to the bottom right to start frame 12 and he's on the yellow. A break of 15 follows before he badly misses a red with the rest to the bottom left, which Fouldsy thinks may have had a kick.

Selby 8-3 Jones

It's there! Mark drops in behind the pink, plays it long to the bottom right and middles it to take a five frame lead.

Selby 7-3 Jones (48-50)

Mark survives leaving the red over the left middle as he flukes a snooker on the blue. Jamie then flukes one of his own after a double kiss, and both players see the larks of the situation. He's not so lucky next time though, leaving the red on to the yellow pocket, and Mark puts it away. He'll need to clear to the pink, and a super long yellow has now made that possible...

Selby 7-3 Jones (40-50)

Jamie drains an excellent red into the green pocket with the rest to keep going, and later brings another red off the left rail and prods that into the yellow pocket using the rest too. He can't shift the final red off the right rail after potting the pink though, and a safety follows. He's in the lead, and this could go either way.

Selby 7-3 Jones (40-22)

It's another reprieve for Jamie as Mark leaves himself with awkward cueing over a red when going at the black. He miscues horribly, the pots doesn't go close and Jamie is in. A good opening red makes others available; there's a lot to do with three reds in awkward positions near cushions but he can get right back in this one.

Selby 7-3 Jones (25-0)

Jamie has a lash at a long red to the bottom left in frame 11, but it misses by a huge margin. That lets Mark in, who jabs in a mid-range red with the rest and there's a good whack of points on here. He's scoring quickly again, and the trouble in this match for Jamie is deepening.

Selby 7-3 Jones

Mark looks relieved, as well he might. He steps in to pot the final five balls, and the frame is his.

Selby 6-3 Jones (61-33)

Oh my word, what a choker. Jones plays a stunning shot, potting the yellow and bringing the green off the left rail, and it looks routine from here. In potting the green though, he's gone in-off in the right middle! That's a staggering error and might have broken the back of this match for Mark.

Selby 6-3 Jones (57-31)

Jamie is showing plenty of moxie here, getting the black back on its spot quickly and taking the four reds with one pink and three blacks. Can he possibly dish the colours and nick the frame?

Selby 6-3 Jones (57-0)

It's another half-century for Mark, who looks in determined mood tonight. He works his way on to frame ball red, dropping in behind it but he then rattles it out of the bottom right and it's a huge reprieve for Jamie. There are 59 points left out there.

Selby 6-3 Jones (22-0)

Mark gets the first red of the night down, but can't find a path to the black from it. A second red goes down and position doesn't come from that either, but at the third attempt Mark drops in a gimme and he's on the pink. The black is tied up but it's a decent chance with pink and blue available.

Let's go

Rob Walker is amping up a Crucible evening crowd that needs little invitation. The players are baized, so let's get it popping.

Angles and the Wind

In the Eurosport studio, Jimmy White and Alan McManus are chatting with Radzi Chinyanganya about who they thing might win this year. Worth paying attention to, given the knowledge base there. Jimmy thinks Ronnie will sort it, Alan has a fancy for Selby. They're seeded one and two, so it could well be the final.

Once more, with feeling

Right, here we go again then. Just to recap, defending champion Mark Selby leads Jamie Jones 6-3 after the morning session, and we'll be focusing on the conclusion of their match tonight. On the other table, Shaun Murphy gets going against Stephen Maguire so we'll have one eye on that for you too.

Anyways, enough talk; let's get about it.

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Ronnie O'Sullivan leads David Gilbert

What rapid-fire fun that was! David won three, Ronnie won six and anyone that blinked will have missed a whole lot within that. Ronnie showed grit to turn that on its head after a sluggish start, while David looked a touch despondent by the end. Can he rouse himself and come again tomorrow?

On our other table, Jackson Page has extended his lead to 6-2 over Barry Hawkins. We'll be back from 6.45pm for the conclusion of Mark Selby versus Jamie Jones.

O'Sullivan 6-3 Gilbert

Another nine points from Ronnie do the necessary, and he'll take a three-frame lead overnight.

O'Sullivan 5-3 Gilbert (58-0)

It's 58 for Ronnie, but as the winning line comes into view he loses position when trying to get on the pink. With 67 remaining he opts to put the green safe, and an immediate mistake from David leaves a red over the left middle. That should be that.

O'Sullivan 5-3 Gilbert (25-0)

It's only going against David now. He almost flukes a plant into the bottom right, but there's not enough pace on the red and it stops in the jaws of the pocket. There's the narrowest of gaps to it as well, and Ronnie drops it in long and lands on the pink. When he's got momentum and the run Ronnie is virtually unplayable, and he's 25 and counting into this current break.

O'Sullivan 5-3 Gilbert

It's been quite a turnaround, as Ronnie picks off both remaining reds as part of a 66 that wins him his fifth frame in a row. He then goes to shake hands, forgetting we've got one to go, which is now looking very important for David to nick.

O'Sullivan 4-3 Gilbert (50-25)

It's a half-century for Ronnie but it's getting harder now as he needs to address reds closer to the right rail. You can really feel that Ronnie is on top now though, and he'll only need one of the two tricky ones to leave David needing a snooker.

O'Sullivan 4-3 Gilbert (1-25)

Ronnie gets in, but can't develop a chance off his red. David then gets in too, and a brilliant couple of consecutive shots of a deadweight black despite the white being on the rail and a jab on a red to left middle lay the frame at his mercy. On 25 though he misses a shocker of a black off its spot, and he's gifted a chance to Ronnie. The reds are set nicely, and this could be heavily punished.

On our other table, qualifier Jackson Page leads former Crucible finalist Barry Hawkins 5-2.

O'Sullivan 4-3 Gilbert

It is a ton! An emphatic 104 for Ronnie, his second century of the day, puts him in the lead.

O'Sullivan 3-3 Gilbert (72-8)

A pink secures the frame for Ronnie with 49 left on, and he's knuckled down admirably here to turn this situation around. There's enough left on for a ton here...

O'Sullivan 3-3 Gilbert (49-8)

David gives himself a chance, deadweighting in a lovely long red to land on the black. It goes wrong quickly though as he plays a bad positional shot and is forced into a difficult cut on a red with the full set of cue and rest extensions, and he leaves it in the jaws of the bottom right. It's a gift of a chance for Ronnie to regain the lead, and although it takes a few shots to lasso the break under control he's got it now.

O'Sullivan 3-3 Gilbert (22-0)

Ronnie's right back in this because his safety game is so superior to David's and we see it again here. From his break-off Ronnie lands a full ball snooker behind the green, and although David escapes off one cushion he's left a red on to the bottom right. He dodges one though, because Ronnie goes into the pack early but sticks to them, and his break is nixed at 22.

O'Sullivan 3-3 Gilbert

The myth that Ronnie isn't a scrapper was put too bad long ago, but there's further evidence here if needed. A 64 means we're all square.

O'Sullivan 2-3 Gilbert (68-23)

David might have tossed the frame here, as he throws everything at a long red to the bottom right, misses, catches a double kiss and leaves an easy starter. Sure enough, Ronnie gets the mop out and moves definitively in front in the frame. These two are going at each other like two windmilling drunks at closing time, and it's been great stuff so far.

O'Sullivan 2-3 Gilbert (32-23)

A beautifully controlled stun and delayed screw into a pack of six reds flowers then open, but another visit into them off the blue doesn't work out and it's end of break on 32. There are six reds left and it's a dangerous table, so there's an important safety exchange coming up.

O'Sullivan 2-3 Gilbert (0-23)

This is great to watch, as both players are really going for their shots. David clubs in a long red, followed by brown to left middle to come back down the table and he's in again. He then almost snookers himself behind the blue, and misses his attempted red into the bottom left. Even worse, it lands straight to the right middle for Ronnie, who has a chance to punish that miss.

O'Sullivan 2-3 Gilbert

It's absorbing stuff so far, as Ronnie clears up to the pink and now trails by just one.

O'Sullivan 1-3 Gilbert (47-35)

David gets to 35 but can't get on the final red, so plays it up into baulk. It's early, but these next seven balls feel like an important juncture in this match. Ronnie's safety game comes to the fore, trapping David behind the pink; that forces a foul from David, which also lands Ronnie perfectly on the red and this looks over.

O'Sullivan 1-3 Gilbert (43-22)

Plot twist ahoy? Ronnie, stretching, misses a mid-range red to the bottom right and he's served up a chance to steal. He grins, ruefully; David's already stolen one from under his nose and it's on here. He almost makes a complete hash of it, losing position on the colours with a red over the bottom right, but finds a stunning long yellow to keep his break going.

O'Sullivan 1-3 Gilbert (28-0)

We're back, eyes down for five more. Just a quick note to say that on our other table Jackson Page leads Barry Hawkins 3-1.

O'Sullivan gets in first at the start of the frame with a long red, and he's off and running again. In the balls he's as dangerous as ever, and that whirring, break-building part of his brain is still something to behold. This isn't a straightforward effort with pink and black tied up, but he's working it out slowly. That said, there's a brief, heart-stopping moment when he furiously wobbles a red in the jaws of the bottom left before it drops. These pockets seem to have a lot of give today.

O'Sullivan 1-3 Gilbert

John Higgins described watching Ronnie play as like watching a computer game, and that was 17 years ago. Class really is permanent, as Ronnie fires in a 122 to get on the board in this match.

Phew, that was some good stuff! We'll be back in 15 minutes for more.

O'Sullivan 0-3 Gilbert (61-0)

We could be in for a barnburner with this one. Ronnie is up to a half-ton already and he's split the remaining reds below the pink perfectly. This match is like a highlights reel, and it looks like we're rounding this mini-session off with a century.

O'Sullivan 0-3 Gilbert (29-0)

It's the final frame before the interval, and Ronnie could do with nicking this. Here's the first chance to do so, as David leaves a red to bottom left off his break and Ronnie glides it in. In what feels like a heartbeat, Ronnie has piled on a load and opened the pack perfectly, so it's a real chance.

O'Sullivan 0-3 Gilbert

After a long exchange on the green, David leaves a chance at green to it's own pocket. Ronnie jaws it out of the pocket, and the green stays near the pocket and leaves the brown over the yellow pocket! Can David dish? You bet he can, and it's 3-0 to the Angry Farmer!

O'Sullivan 0-2 Gilbert (54-40)

David has a chance here, as he drives in a long red and he's on the black. Only one of the remaining reds is out of commission, but in a great position to lay a snooker. David mops up 31 before trying to force the red out from the upper right rail, but can't manage it. He lays a snooker thereafter, from which Ronnie escapes but leaves the red on to the left middle. What a chance for David to pinch it! He can't get conveniently on the green though and misses it long, and this frame is up for grabs.

O'Sullivan 0-2 Gilbert (54-0)

After a Homeric effort Ronnie has to finally give it up on 44 when he can't force the black into play. He plays safe to baulk, from where David misses a long red and Ronnie is straight back in. A further 10 points are added; Ronnie's in charge, but with 67 left on it's not over.

O'Sullivan 0-2 Gilbert (26-0)

Is this an opening for Ronnie? He forces an error from David in their safety exchange which leaves him on a red to the bottom left. Finally he gets the chance to let his arm go, but with the black out of commission and the pink in baulk the white is having to do some amount of work to keep going back for the blue.

O'Sullivan 0-2 Gilbert

Frame ball red takes David to 65, and he is really motoring here. Get down, hit, get down, hit - it's a barrage so far. He misses the final red along the rail to the yellow pocket, but that 94 extends his lead.

O'Sullivan 0-1 Gilbert (0-50)

David has raced to another half-century here and this looks nailed on for 2-0, because the reds are set beautifully and there's very little to do with the cue ball. Early days of course, but this is a mightily impressive start.

O'Sullivan 0-1 Gilbert (0-18)

Both players miss long reds at the start of frame two, before Ronnie misses a cut on a red to right middle and leaves David a gimme to the green pocket. So far, David is cueing very nicely indeed and he's got a great chance here to make a heavy visit.

O'Sullivan 0-1 Gilbert

There's a few wobbles on the way to the line, notably when David wobbles a black into the bottom right, but a 43 will be enough. Ronnie plays on for some table time before David empties the table for a further 56.

O'Sullivan 0-0 Gilbert (1-50)

Ronnie gets a solitary red down but then misses a couple of later efforts, leaving one red to the right middle off the latter. David's back in and has a good chance to sort the frame.

O'Sullivan 0-0 Gilbert (0-30)

We're off, and straight after Ronnie's break-off David glides a long red into the bottom right. There's no hanging about here; it's three reds and three blacks so far, with lots of other reds in the open. On 30 though he misses a mid-range red to bottom right by an ugly distance, but doesn't leave anything.

Here we go

Our MC Rob Walker brings out the players, with David bouncing in to timeless nineties banger Insomnia by Faithless.

On the other table Barry Hawkins takes on Jackson Page, and we'll keep you up to speed with what's happening.

The Angry Farmer

David Gilbert captured hearts here in 2019 with a thrilling, absorbing and emotional run to the last four, taking John Higgins all the way in their semi-final. He’s a dangerous draw at this stage because he’s a big-time player, with a ranking event under his belt and two appearances in the semi-finals of the Masters since then.

Rocket Man

You might think there are no worlds left to conquer for Ronnie O’Sullivan. He’s widely acknowledged as the greatest player in history, has made more centuries and maximums than anyone ever, has won more Masters titles, UK Championships and Triple Crown gongs in total than anyone ever, and indeed won more ranking events overall than anyone in the history of the game. If he can conquer this tournament however, he’ll win his seventh world title – putting him level with Stephen Hendry, the high achiever of the modern, Crucible-era World Championship.

We’re back

The next cab off the rank is a first round belter – it’s Ronnie O’Sullivan versus David Gilbert!

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Mark Selby leads Jamie Jones 6-3

A fascinating session, which could have been a lot tighter has Mark Selby not pulled the sixth frame out of the fire to establish a 6-2 lead. It was a rusty start from Selby, understandably, but there were signs of his touch returning the longer it went on. Jamie Jones has it all to do tonight, but nicking that final frame will have boosted his confidence for the tough task ahead.

We'll be back with you at 2.15 for Ronnie O'Sullivan and David Gilbert.

Selby 6-3 Jones

Jamie drains the final red and up to the green, and that's us for the afternoon.

Selby 6-2 Jones (27-71)

On 43 Jamie can't get on one of the final two reds, and has to play safe. It's a beauty, snookering Mark on both balls, and yields eight in fouls. When Mark does escape he leaves a red on to the left middle, and that should be it. Jamie pots red and blue, and Mark needs three snookers.

Selby 6-2 Jones (27-31)

Jamie responds with 14 before losing position on the black and having to play back to baulk. He later misses a thin contact on the reds, giving away four and a look at a red to the bottom left, but Mark surprisingly misses it and Jamie is back in. It almost breaks down again but a brilliant recovery pot on the yellow keeps him going, and what a chance for him now.

Selby 6-2 Jones (23-0)

The divider comes up so the whole of the Crucible can see this final frame, which you'd think Jamie simply has to win. It's a poor start though as he leaves a red to left middle from the break, which Mark deposits to land on the blue. It's all going for Mark as he furiously wobbles a black into the bottom right, but he then misses a tougher one to the same pocket and it's a chance for Jamie to turn the tide here.

Selby 6-2 Jones

We looked nailed on for 3-3, but another brilliant break from Mark, this time a 129, extends his lead to four frames. He is such a good watch when he hits this groove.

Selby 5-2 Jones (50-0)

It's yet another half-century for Mark, who is now looking the player who bagged four of the last eight world titles. He's cueing it beautifully now and we could have another ton in the way.

On our other table Xhao Xintong leads Jamie Clarke 7 at the conclusion of their session.

Selby 5-2 Jones (30-0)

Mark's off again in frame eight and starting to look ominous, opening the bunch off the black to reach 24 and they've split like a practice table. Jamie is in real mither here and the evening session to conclude this match could become a formality.

Selby 5-2 Jones

We don't get the ton, but a 73 from Selby is enough for the frame.

Selby 4-2 Jones (52-6)

It's not easy with the black snarled up in reds, but MArk calmly picks off a half-ton and he's zoning in on another one. Although he missed a shocker of a yellow to prolong the previous frame, he's starting to go through the gears here and is only a few balls away from extending his lead.

Selby 4-2 Jones (19-6)

Jones gets first look in the seventh frame but can't capitalise, and a missed red to the bottom right soon leaves Mark a simple starter. He's away again, and this could be bother for Jamie who will have to bury the disappointment at losing the previous frame from so far in front.

Selby 4-2 Jones

The yellow and green go before Mark lays a snooker on the brown. Jamie escapes, but Mark drops in the brown and an epic of a frame is over!

Selby 3-2 Jones (84-63)

Mark lands a brilliant snooker, white tight in behind the black, which yields 16 points in fouls as Jamie repeatedly fails to escape off two cushions. It's understandable, as a glancing blow will leave it on; Jamie eventually connects full ball, but the yellow is on to it's own pocket and Mark needs that and the green.

Selby 3-2 Jones (68-63)

Oh my word! On the colours and needing up to the blue, Mark misses the yellow off its spot and this is still a live one. We're in for a tense battle on the colours now, as Mark goes in-off again but doesn't leave anything.

Selby 3-2 Jones (49-59)

Jamie goes in-off, and from the D Mark drains a long red to land on the black. He could get right back in this here, and does; a rapid 48 closes the gap in the frame, before he converts a delicate red into the bottom right with the full set of cue extensions. Jamie is in real danger of losing this now, and will be rueing those misjudged canons.

Selby 3-2 Jones (0-59)

He's buzzing around the table now! Jamie is clearly buoyed by winning the previous frame, but if anything he's playing a bit too quickly. He misjudges a canon on a red and, even though it looked impossible, fails to land on any others and his break clangs to a halt on 45. It might not be too costly though, as Mark goes in-off from a safety, but again Jamie can't seal the frame as he breaks down on six and has to play safe.

On the other table Zhao Xintong has raced out to a 6-1 lead over Jamie Clarke.

Selby 3-2 Jones (0-25)

Jamie picks up four from a foul by Mark, and then drains a red into the yellow pocket to get going in frame six. He's soon into the pack and quickly gets the black back on its spot, and this has quickly developed into a very good chance indeed.

Selby 3-2 Jones

That'll cheer Jamie up no end, as he empties the table for a 60 that sorts the frame.

Selby 3-1 Jones (46-46)

Jamie calmly picks off 27 before going up for the final red near the upper right rail. He takes it on with the rest to the green pocket and drains it, before going the angles off the blue to just about land on the yellow. Jamie jabs that in with the rest too; can he clear to the pink to take the frame? They're all on their spots....

Selby 3-1 Jones (46-11)

Mark recovers position after landing straight on a red to bottom right and using deep screw and reverse side to come out off one cushion and land on the black. His break reaches 45 as he pots the black and tickles open three reds, but that only leaves a tough red down the left rail, which he can't convert. Can Jamie counter here?

Selby 3-1 Jones (1-11)

We're back, and Mark glides a long red into the bottom right but can't land on a baulk colour. Jamie then grabs his first chance in a long time, clipping in a red over the bottom left and landing on the blue. It goes wrong on 11 though as he lands low on the black and undercuts it to the bottom left, and Mark is in.

Selby 3-1 Jones

Here's the world champion. As the break moves to 69 Mark secures the frame, but he's bang in the groove now and turns it into a magnificent total clearance of 134. There's japes abound too when our referee goes to re-spot the yellow and accidentally picks up and re-spots a red, much to Mark's amusement. A two-frame lead at the interval then, we'll be back in 15 minutes.

Selby 2-1 Jones (54-0)

It's back-to-back half-centuries for Mark as another black is deposited. There are eight reds left, all in the open; the frame looks an inevitability at this visit and we might well have a ton incoming too.

Selby 2-1 Jones (30-0)

An attempt at a containing safety from Jamie leaves a red on to the bottom left. Mark gobbles it up and quickly opens up the pack; that's an aggressive shot, and the sense that Mark is now finding his rhythm is confirmed when he launches a mid-range red into the yellow pocket to keep going.

On the other table, Zhao Xintong has raced into a 3-0 lead over Jamie Clarke.

Selby 2-1 Jones

It's our first half-ton of the match, as Mark lets his arm go to empty the table for a break of 71.

Selby 1-1 Jones (60-18)

Mark looks understandably rusty so far, but he's going to take the lead shortly. A swift 36 and counting leaves Jamie needing a snooker, and there's more coming.

Selby 1-1 Jones (22-18)

A shocker from Jamie here, as he makes an utter hash of a positional shot on the black and takes on a blue to the green pocket instead, missing by a long way. It's errors on errors here as Mark then goes in-off from a safety. His long game isn't happening either, as he misses a red over the bottom right by a huge distance. There's a chance now though, as Jamie misses a long red and serves up an easy starter.

Selby 1-1 Jones (22-0)

Mark gets a look at a plant to start frame three. Reds will be going all over if he goes for it - which he does, they duly scatter, and he lands perfect on the black! Another plant a few shots later recovers position when it looked like it had gone, and after wriggling in the pink to bottom left Mark is back in control of the break. But what's this? He's missed a routine blue to the right middle and served up a great chance for Jamie.

Selby 1-1 Jones

That'll do it; a 43 from Selby is enough for the frame.

Selby 0-1 Jones (42-2)

A lot of up table safety turns this in to a very dangerous frame, and it's Mark who gets in with a deadweight red to the right middle to land on the pink. He's added 24 and counting and there's so much on that he should win the frame at this visit.

Selby 0-1 Jones (18-2)

It's early, but Jamie is in charge at the moment. He gets two reds down as shots to nothing, but can't apply colours to them. Mark hasn't settled yet however, and badly misses a red to the bottom right. He's in now, red to right middle, and has a chance to get his arm going. An early split on the pack off the brown doesn't work out though, and it's end of break on 18.

Selby 0-1 Jones

Frame ball pink goes to take this little break to 35, and the red with the rest that soon follows ends the argument. A total of 41 banks the opening frame for Jamie.

Selby 0-0 Jones (4-43)

Jamie registers a 24 before losing the cue ball and playing safe. He soon gets another chance though as Mark makes a mess of a safety, catching the jaws of the bottom right and leaving a red to left middle. The reds are open now and there's a load on for him, this is a great chance to take the frame.

Selby 0-0 Jones (4-17)

Here we go then, we'll have nine frames this morning and a mid-session interval after four of them. It's drama immediately, as Mark tries a thin contact safety on a red he can see full ball, and is warned that if he misses again he'll toss the frame. That necessitates a deadweight escape instead, which leaves a red on that Jamie can't plug into the bottom right. It's mistakes galore early on as neither player has settled down yet. Jamie gets the first proper chance, fluking a shooter of a red off the bottom knuckle of the left middle and into the yellow pocket, and he's in.

LET'S GO

Our MC Rob Walker is whipping the crowd up, and the Crucible Theatre is absolutely bouncing. What a joyous sight and sound that is!

IT’S TIME TO TALK

In the aftermath of the emergence of the Class of 92, Mark Selby is the greatest snooker player we’ve seen. He’s won four world titles, and nine triple crowns; that’s on a par with the great John Higgins. More than that he even retained the big one, a feat only managed by him and Ronnie O’Sullivan since Stephen Hendry’s reign of terror in the nineties. Selby has won 20 ranking events in total, had prolonged spells as world number one and is our reigning world champion; those four Crucible gongs were achieved in just eight years.

Yet despite being able to assert that hold over such a draining and nerve-jangling sport, Mark has been struggling with his mental health. He hinted at this in his post-Crucible triumph speech against Shaun Murphy last May, and the full extent of his troubles have come out this season.

As hard as that must have been for him, Selby deserves immense credit for using his platform to speak out about this. Many people still assume that glory, money and fame are nature’s insulators from the debilitating effects of mental illness, but if our world champion can be so open about his struggles then that should give us all cause to listen. Check in on yourself, and check in on your loved ones. It really is time to talk, and kudos for Selby for his part in initiating the conversation. Hold tight, Jester; we’re all in your corner.

FIRST UP

We start with the defending champ Mark Selby against Jamie Jones, a quarter-finalist here back in 2012.

On the other table the UK Championship winner Zhao Xintong takes on Jamie Clark, and we'll keep you abreast of what's happening through the morning.

WORLDS IN ACTION

It’s Christmas! Welcome one and all to 17 of the greatest days in the sporting calendar. It’s the event that never lets you down, that fortnight and change that ladles out excellence, glory, controversy, agonising failure, joyous redemption and near unwatchable seat-edge drama on a whim. For the 46th time now at the intimate and inimitable 980 seat colosseum that is the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, it’s time for the World Snooker Championship.

Bin off the bank holiday booze-ups, your Easter Sunday lunch, those jaunty walks in the Spring sunshine. This is all you need concern yourself with until we tick into the final hours of the 2 May, when two of the 32 players will wrestle like Holmes and Moriarty at the Reichenbach Falls for the biggest prize in the game.

I’ve watched a lot of sport in my life – too much, as has oft been pointed out – and I can’t think of any other event that promises and then spectacularly over-delivers with the stunning, metronomic regularity of this one. I can remember duff World Cups, but I can’t recall one World Snooker Championship that has disappointed. They’ve taken up hours and hours of my life, even in years where I should have been revising for life-altering exams, and every single second has been worth it. The advancing years and increasing cynicism haven’t dulled my affection either; as they say around these parts, the Beat Goes On.

There’s your marketing, now let’s get to the product. Brew up, settle in and hold on to your headwear. We’re back at the Crucible, and the boys will be baized shortly.

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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. The build-up to the tournament has been dominated by Hossein Vafaei’s barb that O’Sullivan should retire, which the six-time champion has dismissed as “just words”. Barry Hawkins and Jackson Page are the other players in action in the afternoon session.

Shaun Murphy and Stephen Maguire begin their campaigns at 19:00 while Selby and Jones play to a conclusion in the other match. Bookies’ favourite Neil Robertson opens his campaign on Monday at 14:30 with a match against Ashley Hugill, and Judd Trump takes to the baize to face Vafaei at 14:30 on Wednesday.

Live comments

You can follow LIVE comments on every session from the World Snooker Championship 2022 on the Eurosport.co.uk website.

How to watch the event

The World Snooker Championship 2022 will be available on Eurosport and discovery+, with all the latest news, reaction and highlights on Eurosport.com. Comments begin on this page at 10:00 on Saturday 16 April.

Schedule and dates

First round (best of 19 frames)

Saturday, 16 April

10:00

Mark Selby (1) v Jamie Jones
Zhao Xintong (7) v Jamie Clarke

14:30

Barry Hawkins (9) v Jackson Page
Ronnie O’Sullivan (2) v David Gilbert

19:00

Shaun Murphy (10) v Stephen Maguire
Mark Selby (1) v Jamie Jones

Sunday, 17 April

10:00

Anthony McGill (13) v Liam Highfield
Zhao Xintong (7) v Jamie Clarke

14:30

Mark Williams (8) v Michael White
Ronnie O’Sullivan (2) v David Gilbert

19:00

Barry Hawkins (9) v Jackson Page
Shaun Murphy (10) v Stephen Maguire

Monday, 18 April

10:00

Mark Allen (15) v Scott Donaldson
Anthony McGill (13) v Liam Highfield

14:30

Neil Robertson (3) v Ashley Hugill
Mark Williams (8) v Michael White

19:00

Stuart Bingham (12) v Lyu Haotian
Mark Allen (15) v Scott Donaldson

Tuesday, 19 April

10:00

Yan Bingtao (16) v Chris Wakelin
Neil Robertson (3) v Ashley Hugill

14:30

John Higgins (6) v Thepchaiya Un-Nooh
Stuart Bingham (12) v Lyu Haotian

19:00

Jack Lisowski (14) v Matthew Stevens
Yan Bingtao (16) v Chris Wakelin

Wednesday, 20 April

10:00

Kyren Wilson (5) v Ding Junhui
John Higgins (6) v Thepchaiya Un-Nooh

14:30

Judd Trump (4) v Hossein Vafaei
Jack Lisowski (14) v Matthew Stevens

19:00

Luca Brecel (11) v Noppon Saengkham
Kyren Wilson (5) v Ding Junhui

Thursday, 21 April

13:00

Luca Brecel (11) v Noppon Saengkham

19:00

Judd Trump (4) v Hossein Vafaei

Second round (best of 25 frames)

Thursday, 21 April

13:00

Barry Hawkins / Jackson Page v Mark Williams / Michael White

19:00

Zhao Xintong / Jamie Clarke v Shaun Murphy / Stephen Maguire

Friday, 22 April

10:00

Mark Allen / Scott Donaldson v Ronnie O’Sullivan / David Gilbert
Barry Hawkins / Jackson Page v Mark Williams / Michael White

14:30

Mark Selby / Jamie Jones v Yan Bingtao / Chris Wakelin
Zhao Xintong / Jamie Clarke v Shaun Murphy / Stephen Maguire

19:00

Barry Hawkins / Jackson Page v Mark Williams / Michael White
Mark Allen / Scott Donaldson v Ronnie O’Sullivan / David Gilbert

Saturday, 23 April

10:00

Zhao Xintong / Jamie Clarke v Shaun Murphy / Stephen Maguire
Mark Selby / Jamie Jones v Yan Bingtao / Chris Wakelin

14:30

Anthony McGill / Liam Highfield v Judd Trump / Hossein Vafaei
Mark Allen / Scott Donaldson v Ronnie O’Sullivan / David Gilbert

19:00

Neil Robertson / Ashley Hugill v Jack Lisowski / Matthew Stevens
Mark Selby / Jamie Jones v Yan Bingtao / Chris Wakelin

Sunday, 24 April

10:00

Kyren Wilson / Ding Junhui v Stuart Bingham / Lyu Haotian
Luca Brecel / Noppon Saengkham v John Higgins / Thepchaiya Un-Nooh

14:30

Neil Robertson / Ashley Hugill v Jack Lisowski / Matthew Stevens
Anthony McGill / Liam Highfield v Judd Trump / Hossein Vafaei

19:00

Kyren Wilson / Ding Junhui v Stuart Bingham / Lyu Haotian
Luca Brecel / Noppon Saengkham v John Higgins / Thepchaiya Un-Nooh

Monday, 25 April

13:00

Luca Brecel / Noppon Saengkham v John Higgins / Thepchaiya Un-Nooh
Kyren Wilson / Ding Junhui v Stuart Bingham / Lyu Haotian

19:00

Neil Robertson / Ashley Hugill v Jack Lisowski / Matthew Stevens
Anthony McGill / Liam Highfield v Judd Trump / Hossein Vafaei

Quarter-finals (best of 25 frames)

Tuesday, 26 April

10:00

TBC v TBC
TBC v TBC

14:30

TBC v TBC
TBC v TBC

19:00

TBC v TBC
TBC v TBC

Wednesday, 27 April

10:00

TBC v TBC
TBC v TBC

14:30

TBC v TBC
TBC v TBC

19:00

TBC v TBC
TBC v TBC

Semi-finals (best of 33 frames)

Thursday, 28 April

13:00

TBC v TBC

19:00

TBC v TBC

Friday, 29 April

10:00

TBC v TBC

14:30

TBC v TBC

19:00

TBC v TBC

Saturday, 30 April

10:00

TBC v TBC

14:30

TBC v TBC

19:00

TBC v TBC

Final (best of 35 frames)

Sunday, 1 May

13:00

TBC v TBC

19:00

TBC v TBC

Monday, 2 May

13:00

TBC v TBC

19:00

TBC v TBC

Previous Winners

The World Championship has been running since 1927 and, prior to its move to the Crucible in 1977, it was dominated by Joe Davis, Walter Donaldson, Fred Davis, John Pulman, John Spencer and Ray Reardon, with Alex Higgins and Horace Lundrum winning it once apiece. Since the move to Sheffield, the winners are:

1977: John Spencer
1978: Ray Reardon
1979: Terry Griffiths
1980: Cliff Thorburn
1981: Steve Davis
1982: Alex Higgins
1983: Steve Davis
1984: Steve Davis
1985: Dennis Taylor
1986: Joe Johnson
1987: Steve Davis
1988: Steve Davis
1989: Steve Davis
1990: Stephen Hendry
1991: John Parrott
1992: Stephen Hendry
1993: Stephen Hendry
1994: Stephen Hendry
1995: Stephen Hendry
1996: Stephen Hendry
1997: Ken Doherty
1998: John Higgins
1999: Stephen Hendry
2000: Mark Williams
2001: Ronnie O'Sullivan
2002: Peter Ebdon
2003: Mark Williams
2004: Ronnie O'Sullivan
2005: Shaun Murphy
2006: Graeme Dott
2007: John Higgins
2008: Ronnie O'Sullivan
2009: John Higgins
2010: Neil Robertson
2011: John Higgins
2012: Ronnie O'Sullivan
2013: Ronnie O'Sullivan
2014: Mark Selby
2015: Stuart Bingham
2016: Mark Selby
2017: Mark Selby
2018: Mark Williams
2019: Judd Trump
2020: Ronnie O'Sullivan
2021: Mark Selby

What is the format?

The epic 128-person qualifiers produced 16 players, who have emerged from that group to join the 16 top-ranked players in the world in the first-round draw.

The first round is best of 19 frames, the second and quarter-final rounds best of 25. The semi-finals are best of 33 and the final best of 35.