Defending champion Judd Trump got his Wuhan Open campaign underway with a 5-1 win over Polish rookie Antoni Kowalski.
The Ace in the Pack claimed the crown 12 months ago in the World Snooker Tour’s inaugural trip to Wuhan. He defeated Ali Carter 10-7 in the final to capture the title.
That triumph came in the middle of a sequence of three wins in back-to-back weeks. Trump also secured silverware and the English and Northern Ireland Opens.
Trump has been in blistering form so far this season, having won the Shanghai Masters and Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters, as well as making the final of the Xi'an Grand Prix.
A brilliant display this morning saw world number one Trump craft breaks of 101, 105 and 123 on his way to victory. Next up he faces last season’s Rookie of the Year He Guoqiang.
Trump said: “I was really happy with my performance and delighted that there was a very good crowd. I’m pleased to get through.
“It was a quick win and when you are in the first rounds you want to get through as easily as possible, the tournament is very long. It is just about playing comfortably in the first few games.”
Jackson Page scored a shock 5-1 win over recent English Open champion Neil Robertson to make the last 32.
Page came into today having been defeated by 24-time ranking event winner Robertson in their only previous meetings, losing at the English Open this season and the Welsh Open last season. He got his revenge this afternoon.
The Welshman has enjoyed success in China before. Page beat the likes of John Higgins in a run to the semi-finals of the World Open in Yushan, where he eventually bowed out against Trump.
Breaks of 50 and 102 helped Page to the win this afternoon. He now faces Long Zehuang, who defeated Dylan Emery 5-2.
"I've lost to Neil a couple of times. I knew it was going to be a tough game and I needed to get my own back on him," said 23-year-old Page.
"That week in Yushan changed my career. I was looking like I could have fallen off tour. I managed to get to the semi-finals and then made the final of the Championship League this season. I've lost a couple since then and it is up and down. Hopefully with a nice win there I can get the confidence back."
Barry Hawkins fired in a break of 100 on his way to a 5-3 win over Jimmy Robertson. He now faces 18-year-old star Stan Moody, who earned a narrow 5-4 win against Ryan Day.
David Lilley top scored with 124 in a tense 5-4 win over Allan Taylor, while Chris Wakelin thrashed Haris Tahir 5-1.