Selby Withdraws From Two Ranking Events

Mark Selby has pulled out of next week’s Ladbrokes Players Championship as well as the China Open later this month.

The world number one has withdrawn from both ranking events for personal reasons.

The Ladbrokes Players Championship runs from March 22 to 27 at Event City in Manchester. Selby was due to face Andrew Higginson in his opening match on Wednesday at 7pm.

World Snooker has replaced Selby in the draw with Matthew Selt. The Ladbrokes Players Championship field is made up by the top 24 players from the European Tour Order of Merit plus two from the Asian Tour and six from a combined list. Selt was the highest player on the European Tour Order of Merit, as well as the combined list, not otherwise qualified.

The match between Selt and Higginson will take place at 1pm on Wednesday while the clash between Kyren Wilson and Ryan Day has been moved to the 7pm session on Wednesday. For the updated format Click here.

The China Open runs from March 28 to April 3 in Beijing. Selby, who won the title last year, was due to play Darryl Hill in the first round on March 28. Hill will be given a bye to the last 64.

The following tournament is the Betfred World Championship which starts on April 16th in Sheffield.