Higgins humbled by Selt after taking command

Having taken a 4-1 lead, the Scot lost 5-4 to Matthew Selt, a player who has never previously been beyond the last 32 of a ranking tournament.

Higgins was also one half of the Scottish team who suffered a World Cup quarter-final loss to Northern Ireland, and after yesterday’s setback he hinted at a lack of focus since his Crucible success in May.

“I’m disappointed but maybe it’s because I haven’t put in the hours practising since winning the World Championship,” he said. “It doesn’t matter if you’re world champion or world No 300, you need to put the work in and if you don’t, you don’t get anywhere.

“I’ve not started the season yet. It’s only been a short time since the end of the last one and I’ve been spending it with my family but I need to knuckle down.”

Ali Carter was another player to fall victim to an upset, losing 5-3 to Marcus Campbell despite leading 2-0.

The England World Cup player said: “Don’t get me wrong, it’s great we have all these tournaments, but I can’t wait to get home to be honest.

“I’ve a boy who is 18 months old and I’ve not seen him for three weeks so that’s more important to me, to get home and be with my family.”

Neil Robertson, the 2009 world champion, ensured a continued presence in the tournament for the host nation after defeats for World Cup team-mate Steve Mifsud and his namesake James. Robertson beat Nigel Bond 5-2, making two half-centuries and two more breaks in the 40s.