Former champions Ken Doherty and Mark Williams moved a step closer to the Crucible after recording first round victories in World Championship qualifying on Saturday.

Mark Williams won five frames in a row to battle past talented Chinese 20-year-old Zhao Xintong 10-7 at Betfred World Championship Qualifying. The Welshman came agonizingly close to pushing himself into the world's top 16 and avoiding qualifying at Ponds Forge. Williams established a 4-0 advantage, however Zhao fought back valiantly to trail by just one frame going into tonight at 5-4.

Zhao, who is already developing a reputation for his aggressive playing style, attacked from the off this evening. His bold approach was rewarded, as he claimed the opening three frames, making breaks of 58 and 78 along the way to lead 7-5. It was at this point that Zhao's aggressive shot choices started to go astray. Williams punished some errant shots, compiling runs of 60, 86 and 51 on his way to five in a row and a 10-7 win.

Williams remarked: ''I haven't really got over the China trip yet, but somehow I found something from 7-5 down and it is a really good win for me. I'm just over the moon that I managed to get through,'' said the two-time World Champion.'' He is the one that everybody wanted to avoid. I just had a feeling I was going to get him.''

Dublin's  Ken Doherty compiled a 108 early on in establishing a 3-0 advantage over Jason Weston. Thus defeated Jason Weston by a 10-4 lead . The 47 year-old, who hasn't qualified for the World Championship since 2014, has struggled for form this season and as a result has fallen way outside the world's top 64 in the rankings.

Ben Woollaston defeated European amateur champion Chris Totten 10-4.

Doherty's countryman Fergal O'Brien also progressed with a 10-6 triumph over Gerard Greene, which included a confident 130 break in the second last frame.

Northern Ireland's Joe Swail, who like Doherty desperately needs wins to keep his professional card, battled to a 10-8 victory over Sanderson Lam.

Meanwhile, several other highly fancied qualifiers progressed to the next stage.

Stephen Maguire beat Kritsanut Lertsattayatthorn by 10-7 scoreline ,while German Masters champion Anthony Hamilton grew in confidence as he gained victory over Craig Steadman 10-5.

Belgium's Luca Brecel, who has only once reached the main stages, comfortably beat Sean O'Sullivan 10-4,

Matthew Selt also enjoyed in triumphing against David John by 10-4 victory .

Yan Bingtao beat Sam Cragie 10-8 while Tian Pengfei achieved victory over Zhang Yong by 10-4.

There were strong successes for Scottish duo Graeme Dott and Alan McManus as well.

2006 world champion Dott powered to a 10-3 defeating Allan Taylor while McManus, a semi-finalist twelve months ago, pummelled Kurt Dunham 10-1.

Improving Iranian Hossein Vafaei Ayouri beat Hatem Yassin 10-1 and England's Liam Highfield also enjoyed routine win by 10-2 over weak opposition, Andres Petrov.

Elsewhere, Oliver Lines won six out of the last seven frames to dispatch of Duane Jones 10-6, while Sydney Wilson beat Kurt Maflin 10-6  and Noppon Saengkham won by defeating Jak Jones 10-5.

It was a terrible day for the Chinese contingent as joining Zhao on the sidelines were Cao Yupeng, Chen Zhe, and world amateur champion Xu Si - surpassed by Jimmy Robertson 10-8 , Dechawat Poomjaeng 10-7, and Rod Lawler 10-5 respectively.

Sunday will see the beginning of the second round as we edge closer to knowing which 16 players will be joining the top 16 seeds in Thursday's first round draw.

World Snooker announced that the annual ''Judgement Day''  this Wednesday, when all the qualifier names will be determined in a tense and dramatic conclusion at Ponds Forge.