Defending champion Ding Junhui survived a low start to go through the first round over compatriot Yang Qingtian 5-4 in the 2006 World Snooker China Open in Beijing on Tuesday.

After losing the opening frame, Ding came back and took the lead 2-1. However, China's wild card player Yang displayed a strong resistance.

Yang seemed to be vulnerable in the following frames and but managed to level the game 2-2.

After losing the fifth frame, Yang began to launch his attacks in the sixth and won the frame with a break of 107.

"I had a good performance today," said 24-year-old Yang, "but Ding is better than me in controlling the white ball. It is a pity to lose the game."

In the match full of mistakes and errors, Ding wasted several good chances to extend his lead, only to see the two Chinese players again tied at 4-4 to enter the deciding frame.

Ding, now ranked No.61 in the world, finally found his rhythm in the ninth frame and took the frame easily with a 119 break, left no chance to Yang.

"It is a fortune that Yang didn't open the frame very well and left me a big chance," said Ding, "This is my best chance during the game and I am happy to take it."

"Yang's performance today was better than mine, but he was quite nervous in the final frame, so I won," added Ding.

Ding may play another China-derby in the second round, as his opponent on Thursday will be the winner between Graeme Dott of Scotland and 19-year-old Chinese Yu Delu.

Veteran world No.9 Mark Williams celebrated his birthday with a victory over Drew Henry 5-1 on Tuesday.

Williams showed high profile during the match, including a 116 break in the third frame and a higher 133 in the fourth.

"I always like to play in China. I need to win couple of matches and I don't want to lose on my birthday, which is today," said Williams after the match.

"I played well today, I had good performance last month, I hope to keep playing like that," said 31-year-old Williams.

Another match in Tuesday's evening was between Scott MacKenzieand Matthew Stevens, as wild card player MacKenzie won the game 5-4 over world No.4 Stevens.

Veteran Jimmy White became the surprising big-name casualty in the first round.

Jimmy White was leading 3-0 as he started his China journey Tuesday morning. However, Joe Swail, who entered the main draw after beating China's wild card player Liu Chuang on Monday, displayed a strong resistance to win the game 5-3.

"I'm really struggling with confidence," White admitted. "I'm putting in the work but not producing anything under pressure."

Former World No. 4 Paul Hunter also suffered an early exit after losing to David Roe in the first round.

Hunter was diagnosed with cancer before last year's China Open and has spent much time undergoing treatment, but he came to Beijing despite his illness.

Paul Hunter

Down 0-3 in games, Hunter tried to come back in the fourth and leveled the score 4-4 in the best-of-nine games of the first round.

But David Roe, who beat Li Yinxi of China 5-2 in the wild card round on Monday, fought back in the deciding frame and gave Hunter the fifth successive loss of the season.

Roe, who reached the last 16 of a ranking tournament for the first time in 10 years, paid his tribute to Hunter after the match.

"I knew Paul was ill but I didn't realize how much pain he was in. You feel awful playing him and his condition puts snooker into perspective," said Roe, who next faces Joe Swail.

(Xinhua News Agency, March 22, 2006)