Ricky Walden and Xiao Guodong scored three wins apiece as Group Seven of BetVictor Championship League Snooker Invitational got underway in Leicester.
The group will conclude on Saturday, with one player going through to the Winners' Group in February, joining Judd Trump, Hossein Vafaei, Si Jiahui, Kyren Wilson, Mark Selby and Matthew Selt.
Walden beat Zhou Yuelong 3-1 then saw off Xiao by the same scoreline with top breaks of 95 and 97. In the last match of the day, he edged out David Gilbert 3-2 , making a vital 54 in the decider.
China's Xiao enjoyed 3-1 wins over Zhou and Noppon Saengkham, then came from 2-0 down to beat Joe O'Connor 3-2, making a 128 in the decider. Saengkham has two wins from his three matches, while Gilbert has one. The top four in the group table will go through to the semi-finals.
Broadcast Information
Fans can watch the action unfold globally, with comprehensive live coverage available on two tables throughout the tournament. Table One will be streamed live on the Matchroom Pool YouTube channel and available to UK viewers as well as on Rigour in China and Viaplay in Scandinavia, the Netherlands, and Iceland. Table Two will be streamed live on the Matchroom Multi Sport YouTube channel, accessible to fans worldwide.