Defending Masters champion Shaun Murphy and reigning UK Championship winner Mark Selby were both knocked out on an eventful opening day of the 2026 Johnstone’s Paint Masters at Alexandra Palace in London.
Murphy suffered a 6-2 first-round defeat to China’s Wu Yize, while Selby later went down by the same scoreline against fellow Chinese player Xiao Guodong, who was making his Masters debut. The early exits of two of the tournament’s most decorated players set the tone for a dramatic start to the week.
Murphy found himself 3-0 down early on. Although he claimed the fourth frame, he then lost the fifth in agonising fashion on the black, and Wu maintained control thereafter. The 22-year-old, currently ranked 13th in the world, underlined his growing reputation with a composed performance that included a superb 137 clearance in the second frame and a 56 break in the seventh.
Wu, who won his first ranking title at the International Championship in November after defeating Judd Trump, Zhao Xintong and John Higgins, admitted he initially felt nervous in the Alexandra Palace arena. However, he said he settled quickly and relished the atmosphere, describing the victory over Murphy on his Masters debut as a major personal milestone.
For Murphy, the loss was a bitter disappointment. The 43-year-old, who reached the UK Championship semi-finals last month, failed to make a single break over 50. He described it as his poorest performance of the season, and possibly his worst at the Masters, despite feeling his preparation had been strong. Murphy was generous in defeat, praising Wu’s calmness and predicting he would pose problems for any opponent.
Wu will now face Xiao Guodong in an all-Chinese quarter-final on Thursday after Xiao produced an impressive display to eliminate Selby in the evening session. Xiao raced into a 4-0 lead with breaks of 95, 62, 76 and 77, while Selby struggled for scoring opportunities.
The four-time world champion briefly threatened a comeback with breaks of 101 and 76 to close the gap to 4-2. However, after a lengthy spell without potting a ball, Xiao responded with a decisive 118 break before edging a scrappy eighth frame to seal victory.
Xiao said he approached his first Masters appearance with a relaxed mindset, focusing on enjoyment rather than the result. Selby, meanwhile, accepted the outcome, acknowledging Xiao’s quality and admitting that missed chances proved costly, even though he felt positive about his overall form.
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