Mark Selby stunned by Jack Lisowski at UK Championship
Mark Selby was the latest big name to bow out of the UK Championship following a 6-4 defeat by Jack Lisowski on Sunday.
The Jester is a two-time winner of the season’s first Triple Crown, lifting the trophy at the York Barbican Centre in 2012 and 2016.
His latest quest for a third UK crown appeared on course when breaks of 119 and 136 helped establish a 3-0 lead over Lisowski, who he had beaten in each of their four previous meetings.
However, the left-hander came roaring back, winning six of the next seven frames to book his place in the second round.
“It’s all a bit of a blur,” said 2022 semi-finalist Lisowski, who has also reached the last eight on two other occasions.
“I played well, good safety and good scoring. Wherever I go, I play quite risky snooker, so the crowd always wants to see something and make a game of it.
“There’s something about the crowd at York. It’s really grown here and it’s turned into an incredible tournament, and the crowd are a part of that.”
Selby dominated from the break-off, scoring 329 points for the loss of just six as he cruised into a 3-0 advantage. However, Lisowski responded with runs of 55, 63 and 100 to level at 3-3.
The Jester regained his lead with 61 and looked good for 5-3 at 55-0 up in frame eight, but Jackpot produced a superb 70 counter clearance to steal on the black.
A contribution of 61 then put Lisowski ahead for the first time, with the six-time ranking event finalist getting over the line in the following frame.
“I played well to go 3-0 [up] then I misjudged a red in the next frame, and that was probably the turning point of the match,” Selby said.
“If I had gone 4-0, I would’ve broken the back of the match, but Jack played well and I know he is capable of that. When his mind is right, he is capable of beating anyone.”
Si Jiahui was the other seed to fall on day two in York, the two-time ranking finalist going down 6-4 against compatriot Wu Yize.
This season’s English Open runner-up was pegged back to 5-4 from 4-1 up – with Si producing a wonderful break of 128 along the way – but held his nerve to book a last-16 date with Mark Allen.
The 2022 champion was far from his best against Jackson Page, with a top break of just 56, but did enough to avoid a second successive first-round exit in York.
“I got the job done and that’s pretty much it, it was awful,” he said. “I’m not in a good place with my game. I’m probably trying too hard, I just needed to give 100 per cent on every shot, and nothing is coming easy for me.
“It wasn’t fun to be part of that match – I’m just playing like that all the time and it’s hard to put my finger on why, and that’s the frustrating thing.
“I’ve been in three finals here, lost two [in 2011 and 2018], so I really enjoy this tournament. But it’s not fun [at the moment], I’m not going to lie.
“I’m hoping one performance turns it around, but I feel a million miles away from that performance.”
The day’s other match saw Ali Carter overcome Ryan Day 6-4 in a battle of the former semi-finalists.
Although his opponent levelled at 3-3 from 3-1 down, the Captain won three of the last four frames to seal his progress to the next round.
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UK Championship 2024 | Day Two Results
Sunday November 24
Round One
1pm
Mark Allen 6-4 Jackson Page
Ali Carter 6-4 Ryan Day
7pm
Si Jiahui 4-6 Wu Yize
Mark Selby 4-6 Jack Lisowski