(Sports Focus) O'Sullivan and Ding through, Selby made to Sweat

BEIJING, April 2 (Xinhua) -- The revamped China Open got underway in Beijing on Monday, with players eyeing a final chance to book their ticket to this year's World Championships.

On Day One, World Number 1 Mark Selby was unexpectedly made to sweat in the Beijing heat.

In what was supposed to be a routine qualifier, the Jester was left wiping his brow after being pushed by world number 91 Wang Yuchen - before eventually winning 6-4.

Even with the pressure of the TV lights, the 20-year-old looked assured and quickly took the opening frame.

The second got even better for the young man. Wang calmly dispatching the balls to 96 - only to rattle the black for his century break.

But Selby hit back with breaks of 83 and 87, and a scrappy third to go 3-2 up.

Wang came again - an aggressive split of the reds allowing him to hit a break of 71 for 3-3.

Selby ground out for 4-3. Wang clawed back for 4-4, finishing the frame with some showboating on the colours. But Selby eventually had too much, taking the last two frames and his place in the first round.

Relaxed Ronnie

For tournament favourite Ronnie O'Sullivan, it was all so different.

Visibly jet-lagged, the Rocket didn't need to be at his best to see off the young Scot Ross Muir 6-2.

Instead he said the tournament was a chance to relax and meet Chinese fans, joking that he was on his best behaviour.

"I don't play snooker for money. But maybe for some of the other players it's a big opportunity to make some big money. But for me, fortunately, I'm alright in that area so I just come to play for fun."

"Like I say, China is the best place in the world. So any opportunity to come to China: I take every opportunity. So, for me it's just like a holiday, and just good to be here."

Ding "focussed"

The first day had a mixture of first round matches and high profile qualifiers, held-over to be played in front of the crowd.

Such as top Chinese seed, Ding Junhui who progressed through his qualifier against Michael Georgiou easily enough, 6-2.

Consistent breaks of 66, 67, 66, 67 were enough to keep him out of touch, before a clearance of 91 finished the job.

"Of course the audience want to see me win, I can feel their strong desire and this won't be a pressure for me."

Meanwhile veteran Mark Williams continued his recent resurgence - seeing off Thepchaiya Un-Nooh 6-1 in the first round.

Despite taking the first frame, the Thai world number 60 hardly touched the table in the following four. Williams quickly racking up breaks of 131, 50, 129, and 64 - with Nooh scoring just two points in reply.

Chinese Through

In a minor upset, world number 43 Cao Yupeng knocked out 10th seed Luca Brecel in the afternoon session. The two players went toe-to-toe, trading frames up to 4-3 to Brecel in an edgy encounter.

Amidst the scrappy play, Cao overwhelmingly won the third frame 148-0. Fouls and a break of 135 helping him to the little-seen total.

But a frame down, the seventh highest ranked Chinese player found a second gear, winning three on-the-trot to overturn the Belgian favourite.

Joining him is fellow countryman Lyu Haotian, who cruised past Englishman Liam Highfield 6-2.

While in the qualifiers, 18-year-old Luo Honghao rattled Stuart Carrington 6-2. Enditem