• Wuxi Classic

Selby begins life as a world champion with victory

Mark Selby was crowned world champion just seven weeks ago © Getty Images

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World champion Mark Selby made a winning return to the green baize as he enjoyed a 5-1 victory against Robbie Williams to advance into round two of the Wuxi Classic in China.

Selby, who beat Ronnie O'Sullivan in the world final at the Crucible just seven weeks ago, was playing in his first televised tournament since winning snooker's most prestigious tournament.

Breaks of 123 and 64 saw him ease past Williams and the world No.1 is aiming to add more tournament wins to his repertoire.

"The first frame could have gone either way, Robbie had a few chances," Selby told Worldsnooker.com. "Then I played quite well to go 3-0 in front. No one's going to pot every single ball so you're going to miss balls that you should pot.

"I know I can go into every tournament now and enjoy it. I've always wanted to be World Champion and world number one. I've managed to win the UK Championship and the Masters as well which is great - every tournament I win is a bonus. I'm just trying to win more and more."

Shaun Murphy knocked in breaks of 80 and 76 on his way to first round victory against Rod Lawler, while former world champion Graeme Dott is safely through to round two with a 5-3 win over Zhou Yuelong.

Yuelong is thought of very highly in his native China and is playing for the first time on the Pro Tour this season.

Elsewhere, 14-year-old Yan Bingtao triumphed 5-1 in his match with Barry Pinches while a 118 break helped Stephen Maguire come back from 3-1 down to beat Dave Gilbert 5-3.

Oliver Brown, the amateur who shocked Ding Junhui with a 5-0 win in qualifying, is through after a 5-1 win and Liang Wenbo top scored with 128 in his 5-1 win against Jamie Burnett.

Barry Hawkins beat Lee Page without dropping a frame and Mark Williams is also in the last 32 after a 5-1 win. Ken Doherty made a superb break of 135 but it ultimately proved fruitless as he was beaten 5-2 by Jamie Jones.

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