Former world champion Ken Doherty was a shock casualty as the World Series got under way in St Helier, Jersey.

Doherty was beaten 4-1 by Gary Britton, a wildcard and former professional who works for a local bank.

"It's disappointing," said Doherty, who started the new season 18th in the world rankings.

"My tip half came off and the table was a bit slow but Gary played well and that's the way it goes."

Doherty, the 1997 Crucible champion, who lost 10-5 to Liang Wenbo in the first round of the World Championship, was sluggish from the start.

He had several chances in the opening frame but failed to take them and it set the pattern for the match.

Britton ground into a 3-1 lead and finished off with a break of 58, the highest of the contest.

"I had a couple of years on the Challenge Tour and, while I did quite well, I couldn't really afford to keep it going," said Britton, 34.

"So I packed it in, came to Jersey and have just been playing for pleasure ever since.

"I've beaten a couple of pros in exhibitions but to beat someone like Ken at an event like this has to be my biggest win."

Mark Selby cruised into the semi-finals with a quickfire 4-0 victory over Rafal Jewtuch, the Polish champion.

Selby made highest breaks of 72 and 57 and did not encounter much resistance from a nervous Jewtuch.

"We both had a lot of chances early on and the first couple of frames could have gone either way but once I won them it settled me down," said Selby, the world number four.

"It's good to have these events. Usually, you put your cue away after the World Championship but we want to be playing all the year round."

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