China's Jiang upsets England's four-time world champion Selby at WST Welsh Open

The World Snooker Tour's 2026 Welsh Open got underway with a shocker on Monday, as China's Jiang Jun edged England's four-time world champion Mark Selby 4-3 in the first round.

Jiang, 20, earned a two-year card on the World Snooker Tour in 2023. Selby, on the other hand, is currently World No. 7 and has won 25 ranking title.

The 42-year-old Englishman started the match with a break of 123 points, en route to taking the first frame. Jiang immediately responded with a break of 77, however, knotting things up at 1-1.

Selby continued to attack in the next two frames, extending his edge to 3-1 with efforts like another century of 137 in the third. But that would be his final highlight, as Jiang claimed three straight frames to seal a comeback victory, sinking breaks of 52 in the fourth and 65 in the fifth.

The Chinese potter's opponent in the next round will be compatriot Yuan Sijun, who survived a seven-frame thriller of his own against Belgium's Julien Leclercq.

In other action, China's Wu Yize cruised past another Belgian player, Ben Mertens, 4-0, setting up a clash with England's Joe O'Connor.

Pang Junxuan defeated Poland's Antoni Kowalski 4-2 in the first round, advancing to take on England's former World No. 4 Barry Hawkins in the second round.