World number one Mark Selby was on the receiving end of a huge shock during the first round of the UK Championship as he lost 6-3 to amateur player James Cahill on Thursday.

‘The Jester from Leicester’ has won the tournament on two previous occasions and he came into this year’s event as one the front-runners to claim overall glory once again.

However, the 35-year-old was humbled by fellow Englishman Cahill, who dropped off the pro tour in 2017 and only secured his place at the Barbican Centre in York as one of the leading ‘top-ups’ from the Q School ranking list.

Cahill certainly wasn’t expected to be any match for three-time world champion Selby, but he quickly raced into a 5-1 lead. Selby then threatened to mount a comeback as he won the next two frames, recording a break of 103 in the process, but during a cagey ninth frame, Cahill was able to pot a long-range pink and that was enough to seal the most impressive victory of his career to date.

“Mark didn’t play as well as he can, but even at 5-1 up against him you know there’s still a match on,” Cahill told World Snooker.

“In the last frame I thought if I got a chance on the pink I’d just go for it because you don’t want to be in a safety battle against Mark. I didn’t feel nervous after the first frame, there was more pressure on Mark.”

Selby had no complaints about the defeat, but he was disappointed by his own efforts during the contest.

“I was rubbish all match, I didn’t get going at all,” Selby said. “I’m devastated because it’s a big tournament. I felt flat and couldn’t get myself up for the match which is strange because it’s such a big event.”