Snooker: Mark Selby, runner-up 12 months ago, today crashed out of the World Championship in the first round in Sheffield.
Selby was second favourite to go one better at the Crucible this year after lifting the Wales Open and winning the Masters on his Wembley debut this season.
But the 24-year-old saw his 5-4 overnight lead quickly wiped out by Mark King and the left-hander went on to complete a shock 10-8 victory.
"It's a little bit disappointing but I don't think over the two days I've really performed," admitted Selby. "Take nothing away from Mark, every time he got a chance he punished me.
"Over the two days I think he was the better player and deserved to win. I've had a great season and won two tournaments so I can't complain but obviously it's a shame not to be able to come back here and do well."
Selby looked on course to make it 6-4 in the opening frame this morning but broke down after a break of 41 and, after King took the frame 72-42, managed only one point in the next two frames.
Breaks of 73 and 42 from King put him 7-5 ahead and the left-hander then fluked a red at the start of the 13th frame to begin a 63 break to go 8-5 clear.
Selby specialised in close matches last year, beating Ali Carter 13-12 in the quarter-finals and Shaun Murphy 17-16 in the last four, and he looked set for another thriller after taking the first two frames following the interval.
He clinched the 14th frame 83-20 and then rattled in his first century of the match (108) to trail by one at 8-7. Selby was first among the balls in the next frame as well, but managed only 17 before missing the black off its spot and King took full advantage.
The 34-year-old, who knocked Jimmy White out of the qualifiers, cleared up with a break of 116 to lead 9-7. Selby won a scrappy 17th frame 53-27 but King then fired a break of 71 in the next to complete a deserved success.
In other first-round action, China's Ding Junhui leads Hong Kong's Marco Fu 5-4 after a high-quality opening session. Ding led 5-1 after breaks of 54, 113, 87 and 99, but Grand Prix winner Fu hit back to win the last three frames with breaks of 78, 103 and 100. The pair will play to a finish this evening.