Neil Robertson compiled a hat-trick of centuries in thrashing Oliver Lines 6-0 to qualify for the International Championship in Daqing.
The Australian got his 2019/20 campaign off to a familiar start as he dominated the contest with his trademark heavy scoring.
Robertson ended last season with the most tons – his tally of 84 just pipping world champion Judd Trump by a single run above one hundred – and he’ll be among the favourites to post the most again this time around.
On Saturday at Ponds Forge, the 37 year-old knocked in runs of 127, 115, and 112 en route to a whitewash hammering of Lines, who managed to score just 32 points.
Joining the 2010 world champion on the plane to Daqing will be a number of other marquee names after a good day for the higher seeds in Sheffield.
Stuart Bingham bounced back from the disappointment of losing his qualifier for the Riga Masters last week with a 6-1 thumping of Tian Pengfei.
Jack Lisowski denied another Chinese player a chance to compete on home soil as the “Dude” overcame Chen Feilong 6-3.
Welshman Ryan Day held off a late fightback from countryman Jamie Clarke to prevail in a dramatic decider on the final colours.
Former world champion Graeme Dott and former ranking event winners Michael White and Liang Wenbo each secured their berths at the venue stages in August.
The latter was one of three members from the Chinese contingent who sealed victories.
🏅PERFORMANCE OF THE DAY🏅
Our #performanceoftheday goes to Neil Robertson who claimed a hat-trick of centuries in his first match of the season against Oliver Lines in International Championship qualifying. Oh, and he won 6-0.
Standard. Another century of centuries, anyone? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/PIAIlZNCiD
— The Cue View (@ViewCue) June 15, 2019
Emerging young duo Zhao Xintong and Yuan Sijun both also qualified for the last 64 with respective wins over Andy Lee and Gerard Greene.
Lyu Haotian bowed out, though, after losing somewhat unexpectedly in a 6-4 reverse against Duane Jones.
Among the other names to progress were another Welsh pair in Daniel Wells and Jak Jones, as well as Kurt Maflin and Ashley Carty.
The International Championship qualifiers continue on Sunday with the likes of Mark Williams and David Gilbert in action.