Mark Selby described his performance as ‘pathetic’ following a shock first-round exit at the World Snooker Championships.

The world No.4 was dumped out of the tournament at the hands of Ben Woollaston in a match that ran into the early hours of Friday morning.

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Mark Selby suffered a shock opening-round exit at the world championships[/caption]

Despite leading 5-4, Selby went on to win just three more frames as his close friend Woollaston romped to a 10-8 victory.

The win was Woollaston’s first at the Crucible and kept his cool in seeing off four-time winner Selby to set up a second-round clash with Si Jiahui on Saturday.

Following the match, Selby praised the performance of his opponent whilst giving a damning analysis of his own display.

“I didn’t deserve to win,” Selby said. “Ben played some great stuff, his safety was unbelievable at times but I still had my chances. It was pathetic really from me. To play like that is disappointing.

“It’s the same old story – I try too hard and stop myself from playing. I love Ben to bits, I’ve known him for years. I grew up with him and have seen him progressing.

“To finish off the season like that has put a dampener on the season. My goal going forward is to win more Triple Crown events.”

Meanwhile, Woollaston who came through two qualifying rounds to book his spot in the main tournament admitted the scalp was the biggest of his career.

“Without a doubt it’s my best ever win,” he said. “I beat Mark Williams to reach the final of the Welsh Open in 2015 in front of a big crowd. But this is far bigger.

“Mark didn’t play his best but that doesn’t matter to me, he is still really difficult to beat, especially here. I did a lot of things well, I made a few mistakes but that was bound to happen.

“Mark is the best there has ever been tactically but I stayed tough in the safety battles and that won me the match. People might say his head was gone, but I made it hard for him and that’s why he got frustrated. It’s possible I can go further if I can play better.”

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Ben Woollaston came from behind to edge a 10-8 thriller on Thursday night[/caption]

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Selby had no answer to Woollaston’s late charge[/caption]

“I know I’m pretty good tactically, but Mark [Selby] is the best at that. I stayed pretty tough in the safety battles and that’s what won me the match.”

Selby joins big guns Kyren Wilson and Neil Robertson in exiting the tournament in the opening round.

The Leicester cueman also failed to make the last 16 in last year’s event, losing to Joe O’Connor, something he was hoping to put right this time round.

But issues with his cue tip blighted what was a difficult night for the 41-year-old who made just one break over 40 in the entirety of the match.

Elsewhere, John Higgins and Xiao Guodong ended the opening session of their second round clash level at 4-4.

Higgins finished strongly in the last session with a run of 79 to finish on level terms. The pair resume duties on Friday afternoon.

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John Higgins resumes his second-round match against Xiao Guodong on Friday[/caption]

Former world champion Luca Brecel fought back from 5-1 down to beat Ryan Day 10-7 and book his place in the last 16.

The Belgian was far from his best against Day who later admitted his form is no longer what it once was.

“Even with a 5-1 lead I was looking over my shoulder and not looking forward. I’m just not over-confident and I’m definitely not the player I once was,” he said.

“I turn up and play and try. I’ve been doing it a long time so it’s obviously a lot closer to the end than the beginning. I would’ve beaten myself up the way I played if that had been a couple of years ago, but I’ve come to terms with it.

“I still like competing, I just haven’t got the game that I had. As long as I’m on the tour I will still play and make a living out of it. I need to try to do something different [in matches] but I can’t see my game really improving much.”