A dramatic first day at the World Grand Prix saw two big names survive scares, but Neil Robertson is out after a 4-1 defeat to Xiao Guodong.
Xiao needed a top break of just 52 to oust Robertson, who lost in the opening round of the Masters where his preparation had been disrupted by illness.
Robertson was well off the pace here, scoring just a single point during the first two frames and losing a tight third, before at last finding fluency with a century break which raised hopes of a fightback.
It wasn't to be, however, as Xiao finished the job off against a player who has reached two of the last three finals at the event.
Jack Lisowski responded to a whitewash defeat at the Masters to reach round two – despite coming within a whisker of defeat.
Lisowski beat close friend and fellow local Robert Milkins 4-3, recovering from 3-1 down to avoid falling at the first hurdle.
Milkins missed a routine red in the fifth when leading 52-1 and was ruthlessly punished by Lisowski, who made a match-saving break of 60 before clicking into gear with runs of 102 and 86.
Lisowski said: “I’m very happy. We are in my home town, so at 3-1 down I was thinking about my friends and wanted to make a game of it. Luckily Rob missed with a chance to win. I cleared up and turned the match around. I would have been gutted to lose first round. Rob looked fantastic tonight and it took everything I had to beat him.
“It was horrible at the end. I should feel great, but then I saw him. It is hard playing your friends. I was apologising and I’m sure he would have been the same beating me. You can never get used to it, but it’s snooker and it’s an individual sport. If I want to win the title, I have to beat my mates.”
Earlier, Mark Allen also found his fluency late on to beat David Gilbert 4-2.
Allen arrived at the event after a chastening 6-0 defeat to Barry Hawkins at the Masters, and a similarly early departure appeared possible after a run of 68 saw Gilbert lead 2-1 in this best-of-seven opener.
After edging a tight fourth frame, Allen produced a sublime 133 break to edge ahead for the first time since taking the opening frame, and a tight sixth also went his way to seal things.
Allen is yet to advance beyond the second round of the tournament but will be odds-on to do so by beating either Joe O'Connor or Lyu Haotian next.
On the other table, Zhou Yuelong and Thepchaiyah Un-Nooh served up a quality contest which the former edged 4-3.
Un-Nooh had led 1-0 and 2-1 but two centuries from Zhou saw him deservedly advance to the second round for the first time in four attempts.
