Selby soars into UK Championship last 16 after Joyce whitewash

Jonathan Davies in UK Championship 27 November 2023

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Selby was in scintillating form on Monday (PA Images / Alamy Stock Photo)

Mark Selby breezed through to the UK Championship last 16 following a comprehensive 6-0 whitewash of Mark Joyce on Monday.

A champion at the York Barbican Centre in 2012 and 2016, the Jester has not enjoyed the greatest of form at this event in recent years.

Indeed, Selby has reached the quarter-finals on just one occasion since that second triumph, while he fell at the first hurdle against Hossein Vafaei 12 months ago.

But there were no signs of a repeat of that this time around.

After taking a scrappy opening frame with a 44 clearance, Selby established complete control of the contest with breaks of 82, 61, 75 and 80 on the way to wrapping up the whitewash.

Next up for the four-time World champion is a showdown with good friend Barry Hawkins, who overcame Ben Woollaston 6-4.

One of the form players of this season, European Masters champion Hawkins was in early danger at 3-1 behind, but won five of the next six frames to prevail.

Elsewhere, Judd Trump hit two centuries on the way to a commanding 6-1 victory over Pang Junxu.

The Ace has been the standout player this term having won three successive ranking events at the Wuhan Open, English Open and Northern Ireland Open, while also reaching the European Masters and Champion of Champions finals.

Trump picked up from where he left off with breaks of 124 and 114 on the way to setting up a clash with Jamie Jones, who overcame Jack Lisowski 6-4.

The Welshman trailed 2-0 after losing the second frame on a fluked re-spotted black, but responded brilliantly with breaks of 101 and 113 putting him 3-2 up.

Lisowski won two of the next three frames to level at 4-4, but Jones was not to be denied with a neat clearance of 67 seeing him over the line.

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