Mark Selby was full of praise for Joe Perry after suffering a shock first-round exit from the World Championship on Saturday. The world number one has dominated at the Crucible over recent times but Perry claimed what is likely to be the biggest shock of this year’s tournament.
Selby had not lost at the World Championship in 10 matches, having lifted the title in 2016 and 2017 courtesy of victories over Ronnie O’Sullivan, who is priced at 10/3 to win this year’s edition, and John Higgins respectively. However, his incredible run was finally brought to an end in dramatic fashion on Saturday as Perry picked up a 10-4 win. The Jester from Leicester is just the seventh defending champion to crash out in the first round at the Crucible, joining the likes of Steve Davis, Dennis Taylor, Stephen Hendry, Graeme Dott, Neil Robertson and Stuart Bingham.
The 34-year-old was quick to praise his opponent and insists he knew his fine run would eventually come to an end. Selby said: “He’s underachieved if anything. He should have a lot won more than he’s won. I’ve always rated him as a top player. “I knew he wouldn’t be fazed by the occasion, he’s been here too many times and is too long in the tooth for that. “I lost it really in the first session. My safety wasn’t up to scratch and every time I made a mistake he punished me heavily. “The last three or four years I’ve had some good success here so I can’t complain. I’m gutted to lose but if you’d told me in 2014 that in the next three or four years I’d have won it three times I’d definitely have taken that.”
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