Mark Selby overcome his good friend Ricky Walden 10-6 this afternoon to book a second round clash against Graeme Dott at the World Snooker Championship next.

The ‘Jester from Leicester’ was dumped out by Mark King at the same stage last year, but 12 months on he looked a class act against an opponent who many tipped to cause a shock at Sheffield.

Selby said “If you do go out in the first round, going back home and watching it on TV really hurts you. Last year really did hurt me.”

“I’m not saying I set the place alight with that performance because I didn’t but at least now I can come back another day” said Ali Carter, after his 10-5 victory over Northern Ireland’s Gerard Greene earlier this afternoon.

Runner-up at last year’s World Snooker Championship, Ali Carter has been tipped to go all the way this time around. This year’s Welsh Open champion has reached three other semi-finals this season and proudly sits 4th in the provisional world rankings, however it was Greene who seemingly had all the momentum after storming back from 6-1 down to 6-4.

The pick of the first round clashes at this year’s World Snooker Championship sees seven-time champion Stephen Hendry facing two-time champion Mark Williams in what promises to be a cracking opening game at the Crucible.

Elsewhere, Ronnie O’Sullivan faces his good friend and practice partner Stuart Bingham, while second seed Stephen Maguire plays Jamie Burnett.