Ding Junhui (R) of China shakes hands with Mark Allen of Northern Ireland after the first round match at 2023 UK Snooker Championship in York, Britain, Nov. 25, 2023. (Photo by Zhai Zheng/Xinhua)

As last year's finalist who lost to Allen 10-7, three-time UK champion Ding needed to win two qualifying matches this year to set up a clash with Allen.

The 36-year-old Ding looked struggled for having a fever, but surprisingly managed to edge Allen 6-5 to reach the second round.

Allen admitted that the match seemed strange to him.

"I felt like I was in complete control in so many frames and kept losing the frames I was ahead in," the world No.4 told the World Snooker Tour website.

In other opening round matches on Saturday, veteran Mark Williams saw off China's youngster Fan Zhengyi 6-4. Tom Ford overcame a 5-1 deficit to defeat Thai player Noppon Saengkham 6-5. Jamie Clarke also fought until the deciding frame to oust Kyren Wilson.

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