SHEFFIELD: Welsh Snooker player Mark Williams secured a convincing first-round victory as the eighth-ranked cueist thumped the unseeded Michael White to book his spot in the last 16 of the ongoing World Snooker Championship.

The world number eight Williams, who faced his countryman White in his first match of the campaign, defeated the latter by 10-3 in the Best of 19.

Williams dominated White right from the start as the veteran secured seven opening frames including three centuries with the best break of 138 in the fifth frame.

White then looked to bounce back by winning the next two frames to reduce the lead to 7-2. Williams, on the other hand, responded with a century in the 10th frame as he finished at 104. He then scored 99 in the 11th frame to restore his lead to 9-2.

With Williams just one shy from securing the victory, White showed the sign of fightback as he claimed his third frame of the match with his first century of the championship.

White, however, could not keep his momentum with himself and Williams claimed his 10th frame to secure a first-round triumph with his fifth century in the match.

In another first-round fixture, the 13th ranked Anthony McGill secured a comprehensive 10-7 victory over the 43rd-ranked Liam Highfield.

In a see-saw battle between the two cueists, the Scottish McGill held his nerve calm to claim a comprehensive victory by 10-7 in the end.

McGill could not score any century in his first match of the World Championship, with the best break of 71, which came in the 5th frame.

ROUND 1 RESULTS

Mark Williams 10-3 Michael White
Anthony McGill 10-7 Liam Highfield
Mark Allen 10-6 Scott Donaldson

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