Ding Junhui, Williams out as big names tumble in Snooker China Open

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The big names are having a terrible time in the first round of World Snooker China Open on Tuesday, with Mark Williams, John Higgins, Judd Trump and home favorite Ding Junhui the latest to fall following defending champion Mark Selby's early exit in the preliminary round.

Ding Junhui, who celebrated his 32nd birthday on Monday, lost 6-3 to Thailand's former Asian Number one James Wattana.

Ding admitted that "one bad performance in a game cost you the whole tournament" after losing on home soil against James Wattana.

Ranked 119, the 49-year-old Thai snooker once won the 1995 Thailand Open title and reached his highest world ranking position – third – for the 1994-95 season.

Mark Williams (L) joins defending champion Mark Selby on the sidelines after defeated by Ken Doherty (R) 6-4 in the first round of China Open, April 2, 2019. /VCG Photo

In a repeat of 2013 World Snooker Championship final at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, current world champion Mark Williams lost 6-4 to 1997 world champ Ken Doherty.

Scotland's John Higgins failed to avenge his defeat at February's Welsh Open to world number 84 Joe O'Connor, losing 6-2.

Masters champion Judd Trump, who has won two ranking titles this season, edged out 6-5 by England's world number 64 Robbie Williams.

England's Barry Hawkins was another top 10 player to suffer an early loss as he was beaten 6-5 by China's Lu Ning.

With several top players all suffered surprise defeats in the first round and world number one Ronnie O'Sullivan's absence from the event, world number seven Australian Neil Robertson is now the highest-ranked player left in 2019 China Open.