World number three John Higgins came from two frames down to defeat Zhao Xintong of China 4-3 as he battled through to the second round of the Indian Open in Vizag.
The Scot, runner-up to Mark Selby in the 2017 World Championship final, found himself trailing 2-0 against the 20-year-old, who last month reached the fourth round at the Paul Hunter Classic.
However, unanswered breaks of 77 and then 88 levelled things up, before Higgins edged a tense fifth frame only for Zhao to force a decider which the Wizard of Wishaw secured with a composed clearance of 87.
Elsewhere on Wednesday, defending champion Anthony McGill saw off England's Ashley Hugill 4-1, but veteran Scot Alan McManus went down 4-3 against 23-year-old Gateshead potter Elliot Slessor.
Shaun Murphy, the world number five, produced a 4-0 demolition of Hammad Miah, while Stuart Bingham recorded a 4-1 win over Welshman Duane Jones and Gary Wilson put out world number 15 Luca Brecel after his 4-1 victory which included a break of 103.
Dominic Dale progressed to round two following a 4-1 win over Rod Lawler and Thailand's Akani Songsermsawad recorded a 4-3 victory over Stephen Maguire, the Scot ranked number 20.
In the early session, Northern Ireland's Mark Allen coasted past Niu Zhuang 4-0.
Wednesday results:
Ben Woolaston W/O Yan Bingtoa
Kurt Mafin 4-2 Zhou Yuelong
Stephen Maguire 3-4 Akani Songsermsawad
Sam Baird 4-2 Mark Davis
Niu Zhuang 0-4 Mark Allen
Robert Milkins 3-4 Yu De Lu
Ian Preece 2-4 Michael Holt
Stuart Bingham 4-1 Duane Jones
Andrew Higginson 1-4 Alexander Ursenbacher
Dominic Dale 4-1 Rod Lawler
Gary Wilson 4-1 Luca Brecel
Anthony McGill 4-1 Ashley Hugill
Gerard Greene 4-1 Li Hang
Elliot Slessor 4-3 Alan McManus
Hammad Miah 0-4 Shaun Murphy
Wang Yuchen 0-4 David Gilbert
Zhao Xintong 3-4 John Higgins
Mike Dunn 3-4 Martin O'Donnell
Boonyarit Keattikun 1-4 Liam Highfield
