2024 British Open Snooker: Day one report from Cheltenham as top seeds star

Defending British Open Champion Mark Williams helped break off proceedings, but the Welshman will not be retaining the title this year as he suffered a surprise 4-1 loss to Malaysia's Rory Thor on the main table.

Williams - who is using a new cue - struggled throughout the match, and despite avoiding a whitewash by claiming frame four, his race was run when world number 81 Thor took frame five on the colours for one of the biggest wins of his career.

Thor top scored in the contest with an 85, while Williams - who also lost his opening match at the English Open last week with his new equipment - did not register a half-century break.

Judd Trump had traffic issues on his way to Cheltenham, but the world number one was in fine form at the venue as he swiftly dispatched Robert Milkins, 4-1.

Trump moved to 999 career century breaks in the opening frame courtesy of a 104 before he doubled his lead with the help of an 81 in frame two. Milkins opened his account as he was aided with a 62 in the third frame, but further contributions of 74 and another 81 from Trump paved his progression to the round of 64.

In both frames two and five Trump had an opportunity to reach the 1,000 centuries landmark; in the latter frame, the 35-year-old was also on for a maximum 147 break before missing the 11th black when hampered on a red.

In an all-top 16 first round tie - made possible due to the open draw format used throughout the competition - Gary Wilson did the big break-building as he crafted runs of 78, 50 and 97, but it was opponent world number three Mark Allen who emerged a 4-3 winner.

Top 16 stars Tom Ford and Ding Junhui were also eliminated during the opening batch of matches at the Centaur Arena; both via deciding frames.

From 2-0 down, Ford went 3-2 up (breaks of 67 and 117) on Gong Chenzhi, but the Chinese teenager impressed again during his rookie season on the professional circuit as he constructed efforts of 58 and 63 on his way through.

Ireland's number one Aaron Hill registered breaks of 68 and 117 during his narrow victory over Ding. So far, this season, 14-time ranking event champion Ding has yet to win a single ranking point.

Luca Brecel, Ryan Day and John Higgins were the other winners from the afternoon session.

Evening session stories on day one

There were a couple of huge wins for teenage rookies Liam Davies and Bulcsu Revesz against multiple-time ranking event champions during the evening's entertainment.

18-year-old Welshman Davies scored breaks of 93 and 85 in a 4-1 victory over Barry Hawkins while Hungarian 17-year-old Revesz ousted Ali Carter, 4-3.

Shaun Murphy continued his positive start to the season as he contributed with 67, 61 and 105 in a 4-0 success against Ian Burns.

Following Murphy on the main table - and suit - was reigning World Champion Kyren Wilson who swept aside a under par Julien Leclercq, 4-0, along with runs of 98 and 75.

In a post-midnight finish, Mark Selby produced a steely counter clearance of 58 to oust Pang Junxu 4-3 on the final black ball in the deciding frame. Selby had previously been in front by a single frame three times, making efforts of 68, 73 and 125 in those respective frames.

Breaks of 110 and 68 allowed Sanderson Lam to establish 1-0 and 2-1 leads on Jak Jones, but recent Crucible runner-up Jones strung together the final three frames (breaks of 85 and 71) for a 4-2 win.

Lewis Ullah - Ronnie O’Sullivan’s replacement in the draw - defeated Manasawin Phetmalaikul 4-2.

Zhang Anda recovered from 2-0 down, posting runs of 56, 114 and 66 in a four-frame winning streak as he defeated Jordan Brown, 4-2.

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