Xiao Guodong put in an impressive display to beat Welshman Ryan Day 10-4 in the opening round of the World Championship.

The Chinese number three star will meet defending world champion Mark Selby in the next round after cruising to a 10-4 first round victory – his first ever win at the Crucible.

According to Twitter, Day’s defeat means this is the first time since 1969 a Welsh player has failed to reach the Last 16 stage of the World Championship.

Meanwhile, there was disappointment for two-times finalist Ali Carter who suffered a 10-7 loss to 2006 world champion Graeme Dott.

And the Scot is likely to next face 2013 finalist Barry Hawkins who put in impressive display to lead Tom Ford 7-2 going into Thursday evening’s final session.

Hawkins, who lost to Ronnie O’Sullivan in the World Championship final four years ago, won six frames on the bounce from 2-1 down to be in pole position of the first round encounter.

Thursday sees the first round draw come to a close with both Neil Robertson vs Noppon Saengkham and Hawkins vs Ford concluding their matches.

And it sees two of the eight second round ties get underway, firstly Stuart Bingham vs Kyren Wilson and then in the evening Shaun Murphy vs Ronnie O’Sullivan.

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP – LAST 16 DRAW

Mark Selby vs Xiao Guodong

Neil Robertson/Noppon Saengkham vs Marco Fu

Shaun Murphy vs Ronnie O’Sullivan

Liang Wenbo vs Ding Junhui

Stuart Bingham vs Kyren Wilson

Mark Allen vs John Higgins

Barry Hawkins/Tom Ford vs Graeme Dott

Stephen Maguire vs Rory McLeod