Welsh Open: Defending champion Mark Selby was defeated by Jiang Zhong in the first round

It was an excellent first day for the Welsh players, with Jack Jones, Dylan Emery and Mark Williams all winning their first round matches.

Jones recorded a comfortable 4-1 win over England’s Liam Highfield, while Emery shocked China’s Li Bevan with a decisive victory.

Home favorite Williams – who was the last Welsh player to win the title in 1999 – beat Michael Holt to win 4-2 and set up a second-round clash against Martin O’Donnell.

O’Donnell defeated 25th-ranked Tom Ford 4-2 later on Monday.

In other matches, Englishman Robbie Williams ousted world number 16 Si Jiahui with a 4-2 victory.

Williams will face last year’s runner-up and former Welsh Open winner Stephen Maguire in the second round after defeating Ricky Walden.

Barry Hawkins had to go the distance against his English compatriot David Lilley, although the twelfth seed came out on top with a 4-3 victory, achieving his victory with a break of serve of 108 in the deciding set.

In Monday’s evening session, there were comfortable victories for Joe O’Connor, Wu Yizi and two-time Welsh Open winner Neil Robertson.