World champion Wu Yize has set up a compelling second-round clash against former Crucible winner Kyren Wilson at the British Open. Both players secured victories in their opening matches in Cheltenham.
China's Wu Yize overcame compatriot Liu Hongyu with a 4-3 scoreline. Meanwhile, 2024 world champion Wilson advanced after a 4-1 win against Austria's Florian Nuessle.
Several other prominent players, including last year's British Open champion Shaun Murphy, Ding Junhui, Barry Hawkins, Judd Trump, and John Higgins, also progressed to the second round. However, some big names faced early exits, with three-time world champion Mark Williams losing 4-0 to David Gilbert. World number two Neil Robertson was defeated 4-1 by Pang Junxu, and 2023 world champion Luca Brecel fell 4-3 to Chris Wakelin.
New world number one Zhao Xintong, who became the first Chinese world champion in 2025 and secured his top ranking after reaching the Wuhan Open final last week, is scheduled to play his opening-round match against England's Oliver Brown on Tuesday. The British Open employs a random draw for each round, meaning top players can meet early in the tournament.