It wasn't supposed to be this tricky for Mark Selby, so the snooker superstar was as surprised as anyone to be put through the wringer in the first round of the Betway UK Championship.

When the Leicester cueman drew world No.131 Basem Eltahhan – a man who had failed to win a single frame on tour this season and had a high break of just 51 as a professional – the only question seemed to be how long it would take Selby to win 6-0.

But Eltahhan had other ideas – battling gamely to force the world No.1 and three-time world champion to dig deep in order to prevail 6-4 at the York Barbican.

The Egyptian was unfortunate to only be 2-2 at the mid-session interval after making breaks of 61, 79 and 99 and continued to hang with the Leicester potter upon resumption, leaving Selby relieved to advance.

“It was unbelievable really,” said Selby. “I knew he was a nice lad and had met him once or twice but in terms of performing, I had never seen him play snooker.

“To perform like he did throughout the match was incredible – he played like a top-32 player out there.

“I’m looking around and I can see Joe Perry knocking in a few big breaks on table four but apart from that, he was the second-best player out in the arena!

“I’ve just been told that his highest break as a pro before that match was 51 and then he’s performed like that!

“He can hold his head high because he has done himself proud and if he keeps performing like that, he’ll definitely get a couple of wins on the tour.”

While it was a far trickier proposition than Selby was anticipating, the reigning champion is ultimately safely into round two, where he will face Scott Donaldson on Saturday afternoon.

And in a week where world No.3 Ding Junhui squandered a 5-1 lead to lose 6-5 to world No.130 Leo Fernandez, the 34-year-old knows the important thing is to still be in the running.

“The last thing you want to do is go out early, especially in a big tournament like this,” added Selby. “I’m happy to get through, have a few days off and I look forward to Saturday.

“There’s no point me going back to Leicester, just to come up for the weekend so I’ll hang around York and prepare for my second-round match.

“I’m ready for battle and it definitely was one in the first round!”

Watch LIVE coverage of the UK Championship on Eurosport and Eurosport Player with Colin Murray and analysis from Jimmy White and Neal Foulds