Shanghai Masters - Day 1

14-year-old Lu Haotian caused an upset in the wildcard round,
defeating Marco Fu 5-4.

World number 3 Mark Williams booked his place in the second round of the Shanghai Masters with a comfortable 5-1 victory over Mark Davis. Although the Hastings man won the first frame, The Welsh Dragon reeled off five frames on the bounce to ease his way through to the next round. Joe Perry impressed in the evening session as he dismissed another Welshman, Matthew Stevens, 5-2. Perry led 3-1 at the interval with both players making centuries in the first three frames. Perry secured the fourth and although Stevens fought back to 4-2, Perry won the seventh to ensure his progress to the last 16.

As is usual with the Chinese events, a number of the lower-ranked qualifiers had to compete in wildcard round matches and for one, the potential banana skin became reality as Marco Fu bowed out at the first hurdle. Despite showing impressive form in finishing runner-up in the last PTC event last weekend, Fu was defeated by up and coming teenager Lu Haotian after a decider. At only 14 years of age, Lu fought back from 3-0 down to lead 4-3 and despite Fu forcing a deciding frame, Lu secured the 5-4 victory.

Steve Davis cruised through his afternoon wildcard round match against Zhu Yinghui a 5-1 victor. Jamie Jones defeated Lu Ning 5-2 wilst Robert Milkins scraped past Zhou Yeulong 5-4. Ryan Day had no problems with his evening Wildcard match against Wang Yunchen with a 5-0 whitewash whilst Mark King defeated Zhao Xingtong 5-3.