Mark Selby and Ding Junhui respectively won their qualification round at the 2016 World Snooker Open in southeast China's Yushan county, Jiangxi Province on Monday.
Home favorite Ding experienced an unexpected 0-72 first frame against Michael Georgiou. Ding answered with a 119-point break in the fourth frame to tie 2-2. After both claiming one more frame to tie again, Ding beat Georgiou 79-5 in the seventh and in the following frame finished the best-of-nine battle 5-3 with a 117-point break.
"It took me some time to adapt to the rhythm of the match, after all I didn't play a single match in the past two months," said Ding, "I think I had the match in control."
When asked about the upcoming Rio Olympic Games, Ding said he would watch matches of basketball, football and badminton.
Two times world championship winner Mark Selby also enjoyed victory by defeating Jimmy White 5-1.
"I had been here to participate in the Chinese Billiard World Championship," said Selby, "I hope the experiences could bring me to the final."
