Former champion Stevens advances in UK Championship qualifying but three-time runner-up Doherty eliminated

The remaining opening round fixtures were played during the morning session with Jiang Jun arguably the star performer as he compiled breaks of 116, 114 and 117 during a 6-0 win over Mink Nutcharut.

Runner-up in 1994, 2001 and 2002, Ken Doherty's hopes of a maiden UK title were extinguished at the first hurdle as he was sent packing by non-tour card holder Simon Blackwell, 6-3.

Pakistan's Haris Tahir defeated India's Kreishh Gurbaxani 6-3, wrapping up victory with a 137.

Amateur invites Zhou Jinhao and Ashley Hugill both progressed; 17-year-old Zhou top scored with a 116, while Hugill ousted Gao Yang 6-5 in a quality contest where both players crafted a ton and several other breaks over 60.

Winner of this event in 2003, Matthew Stevens moved a step closer to a place in the 32-player main draw in York as he saw off Hatem Yassen 6-2 along with efforts of 71, 80, 74 and 63. Next up for the Welshman in the penultimate qualifying round is Lyu Haotian.

Another experienced cueist to win was Robert Milkins; the two-time ranking event champion is in a battle to preserve his professional status at the end of this season but has been buoyed by recent results.

China’s Chang Bingyu is a player that many pundits are keeping posted on and the 23-year-old set up a tasty tie with 2004 champion Stephen Maguire after a 6-4 success over Dylan Emery.

Another contest between two youngsters resulted in Ukraine's Iulian Boiko knocking in breaks of 116 and 105 in dispatching Liam Davies, 6-4.

Michael Holt won six consecutive matches in this event last year as he enjoyed a fantastic run to the quarter-finals. His latest outing in the Triple Crown tournament nearly ended at the first hurdle, though, as he pipped 12-time world women's champion Reanne Evans, 6-5.

Holt fashioned a 131 in frame five but had to string together the final three frames from 5-3 down to keep on track in the £1.2 million competition.

Marco Fu's early season momentum was frustratingly halted when he fractured his elbow and was side-lined for several weeks. The Hong Kong ace returned to competitive action on Saturday with a win over Ng On Yee, and he got the better of another compatriot on Sunday after defeating Wang Yuchen, 6-3.

Runner-up in 2008 when he was denied by Shaun Murphy in a deciding frame, Fu highlighted his latest victory with a 131.

Fan Zhengyi and Ian Burns’ match went down to the final few balls in the deciding frame, and it was the lower ranked Burns who ousted the former European Masters champion.

English youngster Liam Pullen built on his maiden 147 glory from the day before with a 6-1 win against Farakh Ajaib. 20-year-old Pullen requires two more wins to reach the televised stages in his home city.

Hungarian teenager Bulcsu Revesz notched six half-centuries as he advanced.

The final result of the day - or should we say early morning - was logged at 1.30am local time as Jamie Clarke cleared from brown to black to edge Mark Davis, 6-5.

The final two sessions of second round action are on the programme for Monday morning and afternoon, with round three - featuring the highest ranked players involved in qualifying - breaking off in the evening.

World number 17 Chris Wakelin missed out on automatic qualification because of Wu Yize's triumph at the recent International Championship. The former Shoot Out champion is up against Mitchell Mann.

Former world champion Luca Brecel, and seven-time ranking event winner Maguire are also scheduled to start their campaigns during the same session.