Mark Selby’s defence of the World Championship crown is over at the first hurdle after he suffered a shock defeat in the opening round.

Mark Selby. Picture by Monique Limbos

The world number one has lifted snooker biggest trophy two years on the spin but that won’t be the case this time around after he was outplayed by Joe Perry.

Qualifier Perry produced one of his best displays ever at the Crucible to knock out the defending champion in convincing fashion – beating him 10-4.

The Cambridge-based potter dominated the opening session this morning taking a huge 7-2 lead and managed to seal the deal just after 9pm.

Joe Perry. Picture by Monique Limbos

Despite winning the China Open a fortnight ago, tonight’s defeat for Selby completes a below par season in which he has frequently struggled to deliver his best snooker.

Selby joins a long list of defending champions – including the likes of Stephen Hendry and Stuart Bingham – who have been knocked the following year in the first round.

It now means that the for the first time since May 2015 someone other than Selby will be lifting snooker’s biggest trophy in addition to this year’s record high jackpot of £425,000.

And Perry can certainly continue his bid for that honour. He will next face either Masters winner Mark Allen or Liam Highfield in the second round.