Ding Junhui needed a tremendous clearance in the deciding frame to win 6-5 and avoid a shock defeat against Igor Figueiredo as the UK Championship got underway in York.

Figueiredo, one of the two Brazilian ‘samba snooker’ potters on the pro tour, looked on course for the best win of his career when he came from 4-1 down to lead 5-4, with a top break of 105.

World number five Ding won the tenth frame then came from 61-4 down to snatch the decider with a superb 74.

Mitchell Mann spring the biggest surprise of the opening day by beating world number 13 Kyren Wilson 6-3. Birmingham’s Mann, ranked 115th, built a 3-0 lead with a top run of 92 and eventually clinched the tie in the ninth frame with a break of 73.

Judd Trump, winner of this title in 2011, eased to a 6-2 win over James Wattana. From 2-1 down, world number three Trump won five frames in a row with top runs of 90, 90 and 109.

Marco Fu top scored with 114 in a 6-2 win over Josh Boileau while Ryan Day saw off Jimmy White 6-2 with a top run of 126. Northern Ireland Open finalist Barry Hawkins also enjoyed a comfortable passage into round two as he beat David John 6-0 with a top break of 129.

Anthony McGill came from 3-0 and 5-3 down to edge out Craig Steadman 6-5, taking the last three frames with breaks of 52, 67 and 104.

Ross Muir came from 2-5 behind to beat Joe Swail by 6-5 in one of the memorable comeback by Scot. Rory McLeod beats Jak Jones by 6-3 to enter in the second round.

In another thriller Oliver Lines beats Martin O’Donnell in the deciding 11^th frame to book his berth in second round. Fergal O’Brien beats Zhang Yong easily by 6-2.

Zhou Yuelong beats Duane Jones by 6-3 to set up a second round clash with Michael Holt who defeated Kritsanut Lertsattayathorn by 6-2. Kurt Maflin outplayed Allan Taylor by 6-0 and Zhang Anda defeated Tian Pengfei by 6-2. Sam Baird beats Sean O’Sullivan by 6-2 to enter the second round.