Scottish Open 2021 - Mark Selby comfortably beats Oliver Lines to reach last 32, will face Xiao Guodong next

ByEurosport

Updated 07/12/2021 at 16:18 GMT

Mark Selby started slowly against Oliver Lines in a match which initially lacked quality, but the world number one got into his rhythm and emerged victorious by three clear frames to seal his place in the next round. Stream the 2021 Scottish Open and more top snooker action live and on-demand on discovery+.

Mark Selby is through to the last 32 of the Scottish Open after beating Oliver Lines 4-1 on Tuesday afternoon.

Selby has secured his 16th consecutive win in the tournament, but it was not all plain sailing as Lines took a surprise lead with a break of 64 in an opening frame which saw a butterfly disrupt the match.

But a poor shot from Lines in the second frame caused him to hit a red when he planned to come off the cushion. He was forced to play safe before missing a long red by a distance and Selby capitalised to level up with a 92.

World Championship

Selby wary of 'horrible' first-round ties at World Championship as qualifying begins

08/04/2024 at 22:19

A 35-minute frame then ensued which eventually Selby took 57-1 before the defending champion finished in style with a ton (107).

Selby, bidding to win back-to-back Scottish Open titles, will play Xiao Guodong in the next round.

'So good' - Selby beats Lines with century break to close out match

• Scottish Open LIVE
• Murphy opens up about pain and being 'all at sea'

"Happy with the win, I don't think it was a great match," Selby said afterwards.

"Oliver made a good break in the first frame.

I feel as though we both missed a lot of balls but just kept running out of position at silly times when you had a chance to win the frame.

"Sometimes you can come into tournaments feeling great about your game but then the game does not let you play sometimes. Today it did but I just didn't play well.

"The standard is so tough to win any tournament. If you win one tournament in a season you have to class it as a good season. I'm still in it so we will see what happens."

'We both missed a lot of balls' - Selby disappointed with victory over Lines

- - -

Stream the 2021 Scottish Open and more top snooker action live and on-demand on discovery+

Tour Championship

'Not good enough' – Higgins raises fears about future after 'unforgivable' defeat

02/04/2024 at 07:49

Tour Championship

Allen completes comeback against Higgins at Tour Championship, Wilson leads Selby

02/04/2024 at 07:10

Snooker

‘It got taken away’ - Brecel’s car gets towed before victory in World Mixed Doubles

31/03/2024 at 22:17