Mark Selby
Mark Selby

English Open: Mark Selby battles through but Marco Fu is out


World number one Mark Selby was given a tough ride by Scott Donaldson in his first-round match of the English Open in Barnsley before coming through 4-3.

Donaldson, the 23-year-old world number 65, produced clearances of 121, 72 and 57 as he moved 3-2 ahead.

Selby regained momentum against the Scot after an unanswered run of 124 levelled the match before closing out victory.

Later on Tuesday, Ronnie O'Sullivan coasted past Zhang Anda. The five-time world champion, sporting a pair of running trainers, moved 3-0 ahead before another impressive break of 89 sealed his 4-1 win.

Ding Junhui, the current world number two, defeated Christopher Keogan 4-1, but world number six Marco Fu suffered an unexpected early exit, beaten 4-1 by Tian Pengfei of China.

Scotland's Stephen Maguire went down 4-0 against Robert Milkins, but Thailand's James Wattana progressed with a 4-2 win over Martin O'Donnell although there was also disappointment for Anthony Hamilton who was beaten 4-2 by Switzerland's Alexander Ursenbacher.

Ken Doherty, the 1997 world champion, lost 4-1 to Northern Ireland's Gerard Greene, Alan McManus was edged out 4-3 by fellow Scot Rhys Clark while England's Joe Perry lost 4-1 to Chinese player Yuan Sijun.

Elsewhere, Australian Neil Robertson, the world number eight, coasted past Billy Joe Castle 4-0, Mark Williams beat David Grace, but another former world champion Peter Ebdon lost 4-2 against Ben Woollaston.

TUESDAY OCTOBER 17

First round (best of seven frames)

  • Robert Milkins 4-0 Stephen Maguire (Match 32)
  • Matthew Selt 4-2 Alfie Burden (Match 34)
  • Craig Steadman 4-3 Robin Hull (Match 38)
  • James Wattana 4-2 Martin O'Donnell (Match 41)
  • Thepchaiya Un-Nooh 4-2 Kurt Maflin (Match 49)
  • Marco Fu 1-4 Tian Pengfei (Match 52)
  • Mike Dunn 4-2 Alex Borg (Match 62)
  • Lyu Haotian 4-1 Allan Taylor (Match 9)
  • Luca Brecel 4-1 Ryan Day (Match 24)
  • Rhys Clark 4-3 Alan McManus (Match 28)
  • John J Astley 4-2 Paul S Davison (Match 42)
  • Ken Doherty 1-4 Gerard Greene (Match 44)
  • Michael Georgiou 1-4 Hammad Miah (Match 53)
  • Mark Selby 4-3 Scott Donaldson (Match 67)
  • Ding Junhui 4-1 Christopher Keogan (Match 36)
  • Yuan SiJun 4-1 Joe Perry (Match 43)
  • Anthony Hamilton 2-4 Alexander Ursenbacher (Match 45)
  • Stuart Carrington 4-1 Boonyarit Keattikun (Match 46)
  • Zhou Yuelong v Andrew Higginson W/O (Match 55)
  • Mark King 2-4 Fang Xiongman (Match 57)
  • Dominic Dale 1-4 Daniel Wells (Match 50)
  • Martin Gould 1-4 Zhao Xintong (Match 58)
  • Hossein Vafaei 4-2 Niu Zhuang (Match 59)
  • Josh Boileau 0-4 David Gilbert (Match 23)
  • Lukas Kleckers 1-4 Michael White (Match 37)
  • David Grace 1-4 Mark Williams (Match 25)
  • Ronnie O'Sullivan 4-1 Zhang Anda (Match 31)
  • Ben Woollaston 4-2 Peter Ebdon (Match 39)
  • Thor Chuan Leong 4-1 Graeme Dott (Match 60)
  • Cao Yupeng 4-1 Hamza Akbar (Match 61)
  • Sam Baird 3-4 Ross Muir (Match 66)
  • Neil Robertson 4-0 Billy Joe Castle (Match 15)
  • Jak Jones 2-4 Ricky Walden (Match 65)