Selby Beats Jones 10-2 to Reach Last 16

Mark Selby advanced to the second round of the 2026 World Snooker Championship at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield on Wednesday, defeating 2024 finalist Jak Jones 10-2 in a one-sided first-round encounter.

The 42-year-old Englishman, a four-time world champion, dominated from the outset, capturing the first six frames to build an unassailable lead. After the morning session, Selby held a 7-2 advantage, and he sealed victory in the evening by winning the final three frames. His highest breaks were 78, 67, and 50, though he acknowledged the performance was far from his best. "I didn't play flawless snooker," Selby said. "I felt like I played good match play snooker. I didn't do too many things wrong, but it's tough out there."

Jones, the world number 19 from Wales, struggled throughout, missing several straightforward shots early on that allowed Selby to pull ahead. The 32-year-old, who reached last year's final, described his display as "embarrassing" and admitted he wanted to leave the arena. He believed Selby was not at his peak either, noting chances he failed to convert. "I missed a few easy balls early on, which you can't do against the likes of Mark," Jones told reporters....