Mark Selby's World Championship campaign ended in dramatic fashion as the four-time champion crashed out in the first round, with his match against Ben Woollaston finishing after midnight.
The defeat, confirmed at eight minutes past midnight on Friday morning, reinforced Ronnie O'Sullivan's cheeky nickname for his rival - "Midnight Selby".
The lengthy battle began on Wednesday before concluding in the early hours, with Woollaston securing a shock 10-8 victory against the Leicester cueist.
The final frame proved particularly gruelling, lasting an agonising 46 minutes as Selby attempted to force a decider.
Ronnie O'Sullivan admitted Mark Selby's late-night matches are a bit frustrating
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Woollaston had built a lead but Selby looked poised to level at 9-9 before his opponent halted the comeback.
The match exemplified the reputation that earned Selby his nickname, with play stretching well beyond the scheduled finish time.
What initially appeared to be a routine opening round match transformed into a marathon session characteristic of Selby's notoriously methodical playing style.
O'Sullivan had previously revealed his nickname for Selby during a 2024 interview with TNT Sports.
"I call him 'Midnight Selby' because his games go past midnight every night. He's a nightmare!" O'Sullivan explained.
"You don't want to be following Mark because you're going into the next day."
The nickname has proven particularly apt following this latest late-night finish at the Crucible.
Following his defeat, Selby was brutally honest about his performance.
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Ben Woollaston landed victory over Mark Selby in his first appearance at the World Snooker Championship since 2013
"I didn't deserve to win," Selby said. "Ben played some great stuff, his safety was unbelievable at times but I still had my chances. It was pathetic really from me, to play like that is disappointing."
The four-time champion acknowledged his personal connection with Woollaston.
"I love Ben to bits, I've known him for years. I grew up with him and have seen him progressing," Selby added.
His self-criticism highlighted the frustration of a champion struggling to find his best form.
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Ben Woollaston defeated four-time world champion Mark Selby 10-8 in a late-night Crucible thriller 🔥#WorldChampionship pic.twitter.com/jcMl3aGgcg
Selby's frustration boiled over during the intense match, with a rare display of emotion after the 13th frame.
He hurled the yellow ball down the table in a moment of visible anger.
"I just felt like I threw so many frames away," Selby explained. "I kept getting 30 in front and running out of position or missing a silly shot."
"I probably threw five or six frames away. Just disappointing, you know, because I came here with a bit of confidence and I didn't expect to play like that."
