The Pukka Pies UK Championship began this weekend at the Telford International Centre, with twelve players booking their places in the second round of one of snooker’s most prestigious tournaments, writes Rob Hayes.

Defending champion Shaun Murphy began the defence of his title with a hard-fought 9-5 victory over qualifier Gerard Greene on Saturday, notching up the tournament’s first century break in the process.

It was a somewhat nervy performance from the world number three, who came into the tournament on the back of winning the Premier League title last weekend, and he will need to improve if he is to become only the third man to successfully defend the UK title.

Ricky Walden threatened to cause an upset against world champion John Higgins, as he fought back to within one frame of the Scot having been 8-5 down.

However Higgins closed out the match with a clearance of 84 to set up a second round tie against Neil Robertson, who beat Tom Ford 9-3.

Former world champions Steve Davis and Stephen Hendry were drawn against each other on table two on Sunday, and world number 10 Hendry opened and closed the match with impressive century breaks to win the match 9-6 .

Stoke potter Jamie Cope threw away an 8-4 lead against Mark Selby, losing every game of the final session to go down 9-8, and Mark King displayed some excellent snooker to crush Anthony Hamilton 9-2.

Stuart Bingham and world number 14 Peter Ebdon both produced convincing 9-4 victories over Joe Perry and Judd Trump respectively, and 22 year-old Liang Wenbo was in sensational form as he comprehensively beat world number six Ryan Day 9-3.

Elsewhere Stephen Lee and Mark Allen’s game went right to the wire, with Lee eventually winning the deciding frame, Mark Williams was given a default victory over Graeme Dott, who withdrew at 6-2 down due to ill health, and world number two Stephen Maguire was forced to battle hard to prevail 9-6 over Michael Holt.