Mark Selby keeps cool to see off Mark Joyce in final-frame decider

The world number one has endured an indifferent start to the season since winning his third World Championship at the Crucible in May.

After missing the start of the new campaign due to a broken toe, the Leicester player's best performance has been losing 5-3 to Neil Robertson in the invitational Hong Kong Masters tournament in July with a last-16 defeat to Michael White in the Paul Hunter Classic in August his most productive outing at a ranking event.

Selby will face China's Zhao Xintong in the first round proper of the European Masters event in Lommel in Belgium, but was made to sweat it out as world number 46 Joyce refused to buckle after falling 3-1 behind in the best-of-seven frame qualifier.

A break of 109 helped Selby move 3-1 clear only for his opponent to win the next two frames to set up the prospect of another early exit for the Leicester player.

But Selby showed all his class with a closing break of 93 enough to see him over the line as he chases a first tournament win of the season.

Elsewhere, 2010 world champion Neil Robertson was a 4-0 winner against China's Fang Xiongman in the first round.

Defending champion Judd Trump impressed in a 4-0 victory over Chris Totten with breaks of 84 and 101 the highlight for the former UK champion.