• Welsh Open

Selby dismantles Davis in qualifying

ESPN staff
February 11, 2013
Mark Selby eased into the main draw at the Newport Centre © PA Photos
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World No. 1 Mark Selby clinically saw off Steve Davis to qualify for the first round of the Welsh Open, posting a 4-0 victory in just over an hour's play.

Selby lifted the UK Championship at the end of 2012 and started this year with a bang by taking his third consecutive Masters title and his sharp cue work was too much for the legendary Davis.

The Jester from Leicester will now play Joe Perry in the tournament proper and is likely to meet Stephen Maguire in the quarter-finals.

Three-time Welsh Open champion John Higgins also secured his place in the main draw as did two-time winner Mark Williams.

Welshman Williams beat Liu Chang from China 4-1 while Scot Higgins was a less popular winner at the Newport Centre as he knocked out Welsh amateur Gareth Allen by the same score.

Defending champion Ding Junhui is in with a chance of repeating last year's victory as the Chinaman beat Thailand's Dechawat Poomjaeng 4-2.

Home hope Matthew Stevens looked like he might crush Englishman Alfie Burden but had to survive a mini-comeback from the Londoner to win 4-2 and book himself a match against Liang Wenbo.

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