Xiao Guodong holds John Higgins 4-4 at World Snooker Championship

The battle between China's Xiao Guodong and Scottish world No. 3 John Higgins at the World Snooker Championship in England's Sheffield was tied 4-4 after the first session on Thursday.

Higgins arrived in Sheffield as one of the in-form players on the circuit, having collected silverware at the World Open and the Tour Championship in recent months. He started strongly by making breaks of 131, 62 and 54 to lead 3-1 at the mid-session interval.

Xiao scored a fine century run of 114 when play resumed. He then claimed the next two frames to move 4-3 ahead. Four-time champion Higgins took the last of the evening with a run of 79 to finish all-square. The second of the three sessions will take place on Friday afternoon.

Other action saw a huge shock in the first round after four-time winner Mark Selby of England was beaten 10-8 by close friend and compatriot Ben Woollaston, who took the opening frame of the second session and kept up the good from the lead 6-5.

In the 12th frame, Woollaston led by 14 points, but Selby landed the snooker he needed before being able to convert two excellent pots to get level. Woollaston kept his composure and regained the advantage before the interval. Frame 18 lasted 46 minutes and Selby looked set to make it 9-9 until he missed a routine red. Woollaston countered with 32 and later laid a tough snooker on the last red, setting up the chance to win it 10-8. He will next face China's Si Jiahui who successfully defeated home veteran David Gilbert.