Mark Selby: 'No embarrassment in losing to Anthony McGill'

Mark Selby has insisted that he has "no embarrassment" in losing to qualifier Anthony McGill in the second round of the World Snooker Championship.

The 31-year-old continued the Crucible curse of no first-time winner defending their title as he crashed out with a 13-9 defeat.

Selby has admitted that his Scottish opponent - playing in the tournament for the first time - was a worthy victor and has tipped him to go far in Sheffield.

He told reporters: "He played fantastically all match and thoroughly deserved to win. I played really poorly in the second session.

"Every time he got a chance he seemed to punish me. I said to him at the end that if he played like that there's no reason he can't win it.

"I've known Anthony for a few years now. I've no embarrassment in losing. You look at the greats who've won it for the first time and not defended it."

Leicester-born Selby beat this year's favourite Ronnie O'Sullivan in the 2014 final.