Guodong on course for Shanghai
Xiao Guodong opened the Shanghai Masters in style with a 5-4 win over Thailand's Thepchaiya Un Nooh.
The new season got under way with the first round of the Shanghai Masters and the pick of the early matches was a superb match between China's Xiao Guodong and Thailand's reigning IBSF World champion, Thepchaiya Un Noohn.
Guodong is making his return to the Main Tour, having won two PIOS events last season to comfortably book his place.
The Chinese teenager cleared from the last two reds to pinch the opener from Un Nooh, who is making is tour debut.
But the Thailand star soon showed the sort of form that took him to victory in the 2008 IBSF World Championship, rattling in 87 to level the match. And he went ahead with a 40 clearance in the third.
That was the cue for Guodong to hit top gear and he stroked in 118 and 113 to regain the lead, adding the sixth with a clearance to the pink.
Un Noon pulled back with a run of 56 and levelled with a colours success.
In the decider Guodong found a red from nowhere and made a match winning 81 from it.
Not such good news for other Chinese players as it was reported that Mei Xiwen and Li Hang had not received their visas in time to participate.
It's also doubtful that Liang Wenbo will get his visa in time to play in the final qualifying round. Unlike last season, no matches have been held over to the final stage in Shanghai in September.
Last season's Paul Hunter Scholar, Daniel Wells, got his season off to a good start against fellow Welshman Ian Preece.
Wells notched breaks of 51, 65, 82, 43, 99, 54 and 45 in a solid 5-3 win.
Unfortunately for Preece, who received a wildcard to keep his tour place, he has been suffering from an, as yet undiagnosed, stomach complaint.
He has lost two stone in weight and is due to go into hospital for an operation.
Also in the wars during the summer was Bjorn Haneveer. The Belgian, who booked his return to the tour after a successful PIOS campaign, fell off his bike and broke his shoulder, and currently has metal plates and pins holding it together.
That is restricting from playing any shot that requires him to raise his arm to cue down on the ball, but that didn't prevent him posting a comprehensive 5-1 win over David Gray, who was also given a wildcard to stay on tour.
Haneveer, posted breaks of 45, 60, 105 and 75, while Gray won his only frame on the black.
