World champion Neil Robertson survived a major scare against veteran Nigel Bond to win 4-2 in his opening match at the Welsh Open.
Bond, a surprise winner of the recent one-frame knock-out tournament in Blackpool, led 2-0 and had the black to make it 3-0 in the best-of-seven match.
But the 45-year-old Derbyshire cueman left the ball hanging over the pocket after going agonisingly close with a fine cut, and Robertson could hardly miss.
Bond had started the match with a break of 102, and backed it up well by potting blue and pink to pinch a close second frame.
The missed black proved a turning point though, and Robertson levelled at 2-2 with a break of 81 before an immaculate 130 edged him ahead at 3-2.
The 29-year-old Australian fell behind in the sixth frame, as Bond rattled in 55 but ran out of position for a further red, and after a brief safety battle Robertson cleared up with 61.
Robertson's fellow left-hander Mark Williams has vowed to enjoy his hot streak of form, after the popular Welshman powered through to the second round.
Williams thrilled the home supporters by crushing Wembley Masters runner-up Marco Fu 4-0 in just 49 minutes, helped by breaks of 100 and 120.
The Welsh Open champion of 1996 and 1999 has soared to number two in the world rankings, having dropped out of the top 16 three years ago, and would love to deliver glory for the host nation this weekend.
Williams, 35, triumphed at the German Masters earlier this month, and will face Jamie Cope in the second round in Newport.
‘The Welsh players have done nothing in the last few years - I always say it but it's time one of us had a good run,’ said Williams.
‘I felt very comfortable today, I'm on a good run at the moment and you've got to enjoy it while you can.’
Mark Allen was also impressive as he beat Rod Lawler 4-1 to set up a clash with Masters champion Ding Junhui.
Northern Irishman Allen has taken an unorthodox approach to this tournament - giving himself a run of days off rather than hitting the practice tables.
‘I've not practised at all, in fact until the match today I didn't lift my cue for nearly a week,’ Allen said on the World Snooker website.
‘I think you can over-prepare for tournaments by practising too much, then you lose in the first round. So I thought I'd try the opposite.
‘If I win this tournament it might not be temporary!’
Mark Selby was preparing to head home when Stuart Bingham led 53-15 at 3-3 in their tussle, but rescued himself with a match-winning 52 to progress to a clash with Mark King.
Selby said: ‘I expected Stuart to win the last frame in one visit so I was delighted to get a chance and take it.’
Peter Ebdon set up a second-round clash with Ali Carter, the 2009 champion and 2010 runner-up, by beating Welshman Dominic Dale 4-2.
Dale made a break of 139 in the second frame but Ebdon responded with 63, 115 and 95 to secure his win.
Graeme Dott will face Robertson in the last 16, in a repeat of last May's World Championship final.
Dott tonight proved too strong for his fellow Scot Jamie Burnett, winning 4-1 and sealing his triumph on a respotted black after obtaining a snooker to prevent Burnett reducing his arrears to 3-2.
