Snooker: Defending champion Ding Junhui made a winning start to the defence of his Northern Ireland Trophy title today.
Ding, who beat Ronnie O'Sullivan in last year's final, enjoyed a comfortable 5-2 win over Joe Perry at Belfast's Waterfront Hall to book a last-16 meeting with Scotland's Stephen Maguire.
Former UK and European Open champion Maguire defeated David Gray in the other morning match.
Ding, already winner of three ranking titles at just 20, opened with an 88 break before Perry replied with a 108 break to level. Ding pinched a scrappy third frame and then pocketed a cool 90 break for a 3-1 interval lead.
World number 18 Perry reduced his arrears by winning the first frame after the resumption with a run of 76 break but Ding, the world number nine, added breaks of 65 and 127 to progress.
"I played all right today, but I scored heavy," said Ding. "There was a little bit more pressure on me because I'm the defending champion so I just wanted to win my first match.
"It was good to win here last year. I played well last season and played with confidence. It was a good feeling to beat Ronnie in the final. I've not played well so far this season so hopefully I can start to play better. I'm trying to rediscover the feeling I got when I won here last year."