World number one Mark Selby felt his victory over Sanderson Lam in the English Open was ‘nearly faultless’. The Jester from Leicester needed just 49 minutes to brush aside Lam 4-0 in their first-round clash in Crawley.

The three-time world champion made breaks of 78, 106 and 79 in an impressive display and will be back on the baize against Ben Woollaston on Wednesday.

“I only played one or two bad shots in the match so it was nearly faultless,” said Leicester’s 35-year-old Selby. “I made a good break to win the first frame then after that I played well.”

Selby is looking for his second title of the season, having won the China Championship last month, and getting a key tournament win on the board so early in the new term is something that sets him up well for the remainder of the season, he feels. With the UK Championship looming and the Dafabet Masters in January, Selby knows that he wants to make his mark in the Triple Crown tournaments this season.

“Last season I won two big tournaments in China but lost early doors in the big BBC tournaments,” he said. “This season I am working harder and hoping to change that in the BBC events. So to get a tournament win under my belt in China gives me the confidence to kick on for the rest of the season. I feel in good shape.”

World champion Mark William, defending English Open champ Ronnie O’Sullivan and Shaun Murphy were amongst the other big names to seal victories on the opening day at the K2 in Crawley. Selby is 8.00 to win the English Open crown, with O’Sullivan tournament favourite at 3.80.