Kent’s Barry Hawkins has made a great start to the World Snooker Championship as he leads World number one Mark Selby 6-3.

Hawkins lead at the interval of the first tound tie comes against Selby who went into the game with a neck problem.

Selby appeared rusty after limited practice as he under-performed badly.

Hawkins, who has only progressed beyond the first round once in his last six appearances at the Crucible, opened with a break of 73 but Selby replied with a 64 of his own in the second.

Hawkins took a scrappy third with a 58 and followed it with an effort of 64 as he went into the mid-session interval 3-1 ahead.

Selby showed some of the form that has taken him to top spot in the world by winning the next two to make it 3-3, only for Hawkins to get his nose back in front.

Frame eight lasted over 50 minutes as Selby attempted to get the snookers he needed but he he fell short, before a 41 break from Hawkins gave him the final frame of the night past 11pm and a healthy lead.

Play resumes at 7pm on Wednesday with the first to ten frames the winner.