Mark Allen scored a crucial 6-1 win over Noppon Saengkham on day one of the Fuhua Group China Open in Beijing to improve his chances of  an automatic Crucible berth.

Only the top 16 seeds at the end of this week's tournament are sure of a place in the final stages of the Betfred World Championship, which start on April 21. Defeat for Allen would have left him outside the top 16, but he now moves up to 15th. And that result means Ryan Day will have to win three qualifying matches at the English Institute of Sport to make it to the Crucible.

Masters champion Allen fired breaks of 68, 50, 105, 138, 102 and 98 as he stormed into the last 32. 

Luca Brecel's Crucible spot is not yet guaranteed as he lost 6-4 to China's Cao Yupeng, whose top break was 135. Ali Carter must also rely on other results as he went down 6-4 to former China Open finalist Gary Wilson.

Ronnie O'Sullivan could become the first player ever to earn £1 million in prize money in a single season if he goes all the way to the £225,000 top prize this week, and he started strongly with a 6-2 defeat of Ross Muir. Runs of 110, 67, 64 and 84 helped O'Sullivan into the last 64.

World Champion Mark Selby came from 2-0 down to beat Wang Yuchen 6-4 with a top break of 87 while home favourite Ding Junhui top scored with 91 in a 6-2 defeat of Michael Georgiou. Stuart Bingham came from 5-3 down to edge out Matthew Stevens 6-5.

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