Selby reaches second round but The Rocket crashes out

THE JESTER WILL FACE ANOTHER CHINESE PLAYER IN NEXT ROUND

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LINING UP HIS NEXT SHOT: Mark Selby during his first round victory in York

(DANNY LAWSON/PA)

MARK Selby was in superb form as he beat Chinese qualifier Lei Peifan 6-2 in the first round of the UK Championship.

But his expected second round opponent Ronnie O'Sullivan suffered a shock early exit.

Leicester's two-time UK champion Selby made breaks of 51, 82, 75 and 133 to move 5-0 ahead at the York Barbican.

Lei won two frames in a row to keep his hopes alive, but The Jester took the eighth frame to advance.

O'Sullivan crashed out after a 6-4 defeat to Zhou Yuelong who now meets Selby in the last 16.

The Rocket, who celebrates his 50th birthday on Friday, missed a chance to force a decider and Zhou cleared the colours to claim his first win over the record eight-time champion in eight attempts.

It marked the first time O'Sullivan, who now resides in Dubai, has played in Britain since his loss to Zhao Xintong in the World Championship semifinal in May.

And he revealed he has no particular plans for his birthday as he prepares to head straight out of York and back to his temporary base in southern Ireland.