MICHAEL WASLEY sprang one of the Crucible’s great upsets as he beat world No. 2 Ding Junhui in the first round of the Dafabet World Championship on Monday.

    In a midnight finish, Wasley prevailed 10-9 against China’s great title hope after a breathtaking and hastily arranged third session.

    They had been forced to go off with Ding lead 9-8 as the afternoon session ran over its allocated time, and an inspired Wasley seized the moment at the climax to the match, levelling with an impeccable 103 break and holding his nerve in an ultra tense 19th frame.

    Ding had been seeded to meet Ronnie O’Sullivan in the semifinals, but now one of the defending champion’s main obstacles has been removed.

    Mark Selby secured his place in the second round in Sheffield with a nail-biting 10-9 win over Michael White.

    Selby led his Welsh opponent 3-0, 5-1 and 8-4 but White proved a gutsy opponent and fought back to level 9-9 and take the match to a deciding frame.

    It was Selby though who held his nerve at the death, making a break of 57 to take the decider and seal his place in the next round.

    World No. 15 Joe Perry overturned a 6-3 overnight deficit to beat Jamie Burnett 10-7 to set up a clash with Ronnie O’Sullivan in the second round.(SD-Agencies)