World number one Mark Selby is in danger of being eliminated from the 2019 Championship League after making a disappointing start to Group 5 on Monday.

The Jester from Leicester, who was eliminated from last week’s Masters at the quarter-final stage by Judd Trump, had been looking to make a bright start in Coventry, particularly after showing some decent form earlier in the tournament’s group campaign.

However, the Englishman made the worst possible start as he was comprehensively beaten 3-0 by Barry Hawkins in his opening match.

The 35-year-old did record a break of 55 in the final frame of that contest and he took that impressive effort into his next match, as he beat Ali Carter 3-0, recording breaks of 109 and 102 in the process.

Selby would have expected to build on that victory in his final match of the day, but he was beaten 3-2 by the impressive David Gilbert, who ended day one top of the group.

That defeat leaves Selby in danger of being eliminated from the tournament altogether, as he currently sits second-bottom of the standings, with only the top-four players making it through to the play-offs.

The three-time world champion will need to make a strong start to Tuesday’s action at the Ricoh Arena, with his opening match of the day coming against Stephen Maguire.

Selby is priced at 1.53 to win that match, while Maguire, who currently sits third in the group, is on offer at 2.40. Following that match, Selby will round off his group campaign with games against Joe Perry and Anthony McGill.