Chinese player Ding Junhui lost his first match at the Wembley Masters Snooker to Mark Selby 6-1 here on Sunday.
As the UK Championships title holder, Ding played Selby at the first match of the prestigious invitation event in Wembley Arena, seeing the 26-year-old Englishman winning the first five frames in a row.
Although Ding managed to avoid the embarrassment of 6-0 by edged Selby in the sixth frame in 60-58, he could not stop last year's runner up to wrap up the match in 75-48.
China's Ding Junhui, pictured in December 13, 2009, held his nerve to stave off a dramatic fightback in the final of the UK Championship against scottish world champion John Higgins in Telford
"Mark played very well. I missed some balls and found it hard. I had chances and tried to play better, but Mark was very good. Everybody is a good player here so you are sure to get a tough draw," Ding said.
Ding, turning 23 this April, admitted that he hardly had the time to practice after taking victory at the UK Championships last December.
"I was busy in China (over the Christmas period), I played in a Chinese ranking tournament and did some things for sponsors. I didn't get back until Jan. 4, so I only had four days to practise. I'll be working hard now to be ready for the Welsh Open."
Ding got few chances in the first four frames but opened the fifth one with a lead of 26-0. However, he gave his rival a big chance by hitting the cue-ball to enter a pocket and lost four points in vain again for missing a ball later. Selby snatched the frame in 94-26.
Ding said he didn't prepare well for the match and felt really cold as he sat too long during the match. "My muscles even got a little bit stiff."
But Ding didn't regret for having a short break in China ahead of the Masters and is looking forward to performing well in the following ranking events this year.
Selby became the first player to claim a quarterfinal berth while Ding would practice for his next game, the Welsh Open starting on Jan. 25.