The 2018 SangSom Six Red World Championship got under way on Monday with several former champions securing wins in their opening round robin fixtures.
A total of 32 players, a mix of star professional names and amateurs alike, have been invited to take part in what is the tenth anniversary of the original staging of an international six red tournament in Bangkok.
Following the three rounds of league play, the eight groups of four will produce two competitors each who will advance to the last 16 and the knockout phase.
Defending champion Mark Williams got his campaign off to a positive start thanks to 5-1 victory over Thailand’s home favourite Thepchaiya Un-Nooh in what was a repeat of the final from twelve months ago.
In the same group, Tom Ford edged Ricky Walden in a decider, the latter having contested three six red finals in his career, including winning the inaugural staging back in 2008 when it was originally known as the Six Red Snooker International.
Ding Junhui and Stephen Maguire, champions from 2016 and 2015 respectively, earned early triumphs to gain a modicum of control in their groups.
Sitting alongside Maguire at the top of Group B is Ryan Day, who overcame Nutcharut Wongharuthai, the only woman in the draw, with a 5-1 scoreline.
Ding is accompanied by Akani Songsermsawad at the top of Group E, one of only two Thais to notch up a victory in front of the home crowds on the first day.
The other was Noppon Saengkham, who pipped Marco Fu 5-4 to give himself a strong chance of reaching the knockouts, while Luca Brecel was also a winner from Group G.
In Group H, 2010 champion Mark Selby and recent World Open runner-up David Gilbert each recorded 5-3 successes against a pair of amateurs and will be looking to take another step towards qualification when they face one another on Tuesday.
Anthony McGill and Michael Holt were 5-3 winners as well thanks to respective victories against Zhou Yuelong and Joe Perry in Group F, while Kyren Wilson and Graeme Dott asserted their dominance in Group D with a brace of whitewashes.
Finally, Group C saw 2016 runner-up Stuart Bingham edge Thai legend James Wattana 5-3 and Mark King hammer Shachar Ruberg of Israel 5-0.
