World number one Mark Selby put in a dominating performance in round one of the German Masters to set up a clash with fellow Englishman David Gilbert on Friday afternoon.

Selby, who will be gunning for world title number four at the Crucible in April, put down an early marker to his rivals at the Tempodrom as he thrashed 31st seed Ricky Walden 5-1 on Thursday.

The ‘Jester from Leicester’ – who won the event back in 2015 – made three centuries, including a 127 to take the match, and a further two 50-plus breaks to book his place in the second round of the tournament.

It was a supreme performance from the 35-year-old, who is priced at 7.00 to win the 2019 World Championships, and he will be feeling extremely confident of his chances of lifting the trophy for the second time in Germany.

Next up for Selby is a second-round encounter with 18th seed Gilbert after he dispatched fellow Englishman Ben Woollaston 5-2 in a match that lacked any real quality.

There was only one break over 50 – that coming from the victor in seventh and final frame – and the 37-year-old will need a substantial improvement if he is going to progress to the quarter-final stage of the tournament.

Selby leads the head-to-head record 5-2 although Gilbert did get the better of him when he last faced the world number one, winning 3-2 in the 2019 Championship League.

Elsewhere, China’s Xiao Guodong, who is still searching for his maiden professional title, cruised into the second round with a thumping 5-1 victory over Welshman Ryan Day.

The 29-year-old made two centuries and a further three 50-plus breaks to set up a second-round clash with either compatriot Ding Junhui or Irishman Fergal O’Brien.