Welsh Open 2024: Ding Junhui suffers early exit to Robbie Williams, Mark Williams taken all the way by Sanderson Lam

Ding Junhui suffered a second-round upset at the Welsh Open after losing to Robbie Williams.

The world No. 11 came up against an opponent 40 places lower in the rankings at Venue Cymru in Llandudno.

But he was immediately on the back foot as Williams won two frames on the bounce with 62 and 78 respectively.

Ding found his way back into the game, however, taking the third frame with an impressive 88, before drawing level in a close fourth frame with a clearance of 66.

The momentum then swung back in favour of Williams, who did not give Ding a look-in during the fifth frame by producing a sensational 119 break.

He then wrapped up the 4-2 victory with 72, booking a place in the third round of the Home Nations Series event.

Meanwhile, home favourite Mark Williams avoided the same fate suffered by Ding against Sanderson Lam.

The world No. 8 was taken all the way by Lam, who is 57 places lower in the world rankings.

Williams took the first frame with 91, but Lam responded well, settling for an impressive 89 break after missing a red at the end of the second frame.

Lam missed a red again at the start of the third frame and this turned out to be of more detriment, with Williams jumping in to make a brilliant 117 century break to take the third frame.

The fourth frame went to Lam with 61 after he capitalised on a couple of errors by Williams, but his opponent again took the lead in the fifth frame with 76.

Williams came close to winning the match in the sixth frame, but instead gave Lam the opportunity to force a decider. He did indeed take this chance, hitting his second 89 of the match.

It required another impressive break from Williams to win the decider and he managed 93, seeing him into the third round where he will play Anthony McGill.