This year’s English Open has been blown wide open after world number one Mark Selby crashed to a surprising third round defeat this afternoon.

The reigning and three-times world champion lost 4-1 to China’s Xiao Guodong during a day full of shocks in Barnsley.

From 1-1 Guodong won three frames on the bounce to record a memorable win which set up a last 16 tie against Kyren Wilson.

The defeat means Selby – the world’s top star – is still waiting for his first silverware of the new season having endured a rather slow campaign so far which has seen him reach only one ranking event quarter-final..

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Mark Selby’s 2017/18 season so far

Riga Masters – Did not compete

Hong Kong Masters (non-ranking) – Quarter-Finals

China Championship – Third Round

Paul Hunter Classic – Fourth Round

World Open – Second Round

European Masters – Quarter-Finals

English Open – Third Round

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Selby followed former world champions Mark Williams and Stuart Bingham to the exit door earlier in the day after the pair lost to Jack Lisowski and Hossen Vafaei respectively.

There was also defeat for another of snooker’s elite and the defending champion, Liang Wenbo, who lost 4-0 to 17-year-old Yan Bingtao.

Earlier this afternoon saw recent European Masters winner Judd Trump continue his bid for back to back ranking event titles after he defeated Matthew Stevens 4-1.

Four times world champion John Higgins set up a cracking tie with Ronnie O’Sullivan after beating Robert Milkins in a final frame decider.

Also battling through a final frame match was 2005 world champion Shaun Murphy who squeezed through to the last 16 stage with a 4-3 win over Liam Highfield.

World number 80 and former world championship semi-finalist James Wattana remains in the competitin after a fine run which has seen him beat Martin O’Donnell, Ali Carter and Yuan Sijun.

Switzerland’s Alexander Ursenbacher is the lowest ranked star left in the competition. The world number 91 beat Stuart Carrington 4-2 to make the last 16.

ENGLISH OPEN – LAST !6 DRAW 

Yan Bingtao vs Anthony McGill
Neil Robertson vs Aditya Mehta
Judd Trump vs Jack Lisowski
Ronnie O’Sullivan vs John Higgins
Michael White vs James Wattana
Alexander Ursenbacher vs Shaun Murphy
Andrew Higginson vs Hossein Vafaei
Kyren Wilson vs Xiao Guodong