Luo Honghao falls to heaviest Crucible defeat of all time

World
Europe

Chinese teenager Luo Honghao's debut at the Snooker World Championship was bitter as he accrued the lowest amount of points in the tournament's 43-year history. The 19-year-old bowed out in the first round, beaten 10 frames to nil by 2005 world champion Shaun Murphy on Monday.

His 89 points took the unwanted lowest points record off the hands of Englishman Danny 'The Dustman' Fowler, who managed 191 in a 10-1 thrashing by Stephen Hendry in a first-round clash in 1993.

Murphy's whitewash of Luo, ranked 92 in the world, is the first since John Parrott beat Australian Eddie Charlton 10-0 in 1992.

The Chinese, who secured qualification for the championships in his maiden season on the circuit, admitted the occasion had got to him but vowed he would return the better for it.

"It's my first time at the Crucible and it's a really different feeling. I was very nervous. I've never felt like this before because the Crucible is the dream for every player. It is amazing to get here," Luo said after the defeat.

"I didn't feel like I was playing a match. I was enjoying the place. After this time I want to improve myself, my technique and my skill.

"I'm still not good enough to play against the top players, they're too strong."

For Murphy – who plays 2010 champion Neil Robertson in the second round – it was a rare high in a disappointing season.

"After the season I have had, never in my wildest dreams did I think I could come here and win 10-0," said the Briton, who reached the last 16 of a ranking event for the first time since December.

"Going out this morning, it was tough to try to put that potential 10-0 to the back of my mind and try to play the right shots. Luo is a very talented player and to get to the Crucible in your first pro season is an amazing achievement. I'm sure he will use this as inspiration."

Selby through after scare

World No. 67 Zhao Xintong capitalized on some increasingly sloppy play to go 5-1 up, but Mark Selby survived a scare to beat the Chinese. /Xinhua Photo

Three-time winner Mark Selby fought back from 5-1 down to beat China's Zhao Xintong 10-7 in the first round on Monday.

The 22-year-old Zhao took a 5-1 lead in the first session. Selby managed to narrow the gap to 5-3 to head into this evening's play.

Selby, who lost his world number one spot, which he had occupied since February 2015, to Ronnie O'Sullivan last month, made breaks of 62 and 131 to make it 5-5.

The two sides traded frames before Selby took the lead for the first time in the match thanks to a break of 83. Zhao leveled at 7-7, but three frames on the bounce saw Selby over the line to reach last 16.

"I played well in my defense but my attacking performance was not good enough," said Zhao, who admitted that he failed to play his best in the second session.

"This is my first time at the world championship. I have nothing to complain about 10-7. I did have many chances, but in the end, I am not good enough to beat Selby," he added.

(With inputs from Xinhua, AFP)