Former world champions Mark Williams and Peter Ebdon moved into the last 32 of the Indian Open after a pair of 4-2 victories on Tuesday.
England’s Judd Trump joined them in the second round after recording the same scoreline in his win over Peter Lines in Mumbai, but may be forced to withdraw having suffered a shoulder injury prior to his trip to Asia.
Dubliner Ken Doherty is already out, though, having gone down to Ulsterman Joe Swail, again 4-2, in what was an opening day of dramatic deciders.
The first came early in the day when Welsh Open runner-up Ben Woollaston came from 67-0 down in the seventh frame to force a re-spotted black, which he duly potted to deny China’s Yu Delu.
Unbelievably, history repeated itself later on but it was to be an agonising missed opportunity for home favourite Pankaj Advani.
The former pro, who only gave up his tour card earlier this season so he could concentrate on his billiards career, amazingly provided the day’s second deciding frame re-spotted black but saw his opponent Rhys Clark sink the final ball to advance in the tournament.
That came in the wildcard round, of which all six of the Indian amateurs failed to cause an upset – somewhat of a rarity in events that feature wildcards as usually one or more manages to shock an established player.
Dharminder Lilly came just as close as his compatriot Advani only to narrowly lose 4-3 to Chinese teenager Lu Haotian.
Back in the first round proper, Kyren Wilson recorded the only whitewash with a 4-0 drubbing of Alan McManus while the remaining matches, barring Li Hang’s tight triumph over Allan Taylor that finished 4-3, concluded after requiring six of the allotted seven frames.
Robert Milkins, Jamie Jones, Gerard Greene and Jamie Cope all won 4-2 to seal a spot in round two.
