Ali Carter edged past Welshman Michael White 5-4 to begin the defence of his BetVictor German Masters title in Berlin.
The Captain was crowned German Masters champion for a second time last year, when he thrashed Tom Ford 10-3 in the final here at the Tempodrom.
Since then, Carter has gone on to reap the rewards of returning to snooker’s top table. The Essex cueman was recently runner-up to Ronnie O’Sullivan at the Masters and also made the final of the Wuhan Open earlier this season, when he lost to Judd Trump.
Now world number 11 Carter is hunting for a place in the top eight of the rankings. He has this week, the Welsh Open and the Players Championship to earn his place in the inaugural Riyadh Season World Masters of Snooker.
With Carter leading this afternoon’s encounter 3-2, he moved to the verge of victory with a break of 89 to go 4-2 ahead. However, 2015 Indian Open champion White showed his resolve to take the next two on the bounce, including a run of 85 to force a decider.
A tense final frame saw both players have opportunities, but after 25 minutes it was Carter who got himself over the line and book his place in the second round against Peng Yisong.
“I was pleased to dig in and get the win. It was a tough match and I knew it would be. I was delighted to come through in the end,” said five-time ranking event winner Carter.
“I’ve had three big finals since winning here last year in Yushan, at the Masters and the Players Championship last season. I’m in the Players Championship again this season and hopefully the Tour Championship. It is all good and the spin offs do happen from winning.
‘Everyone is chasing down a place in Riyadh now. That is going to be a big event and great event to be involved in. Hopefully I’ll pick up enough points to take my place.”
Indian tour rookie Ishpreet Singh Chadha scored the biggest win of his career so far, beating World Champion Luca Brecel 5-2.
Singh Chadha earned his place on the professional circuit through Asia/Oceania Q School at the start of the season. He has acquitted himself well so far, scoring wins over the likes of Anthony McGill and Stuart Bingham, but tonight’s victory is undoubtedly his biggest yet.
He made contributions of 78, 88, 53 and 70 during the tie. Singh Chadha’s performance now earns him a second round encounter with China’s Liu Hongyu.
“I am buzzing right now, over the moon. To beat Luca in such a nice arena is an absolutely superb feeling.”
Ishpreet Singh Chadha
Indian Number One
Singh Chadha added: “I feel I am getting there, little by little. I had a good feeling before the match and I really hit some form. I went back to India recently and felt very refreshed by that. I was very confident ahead of the game.
“This is the best venue until now I’ve played in. It is just amazing and the crowd makes you want to play well.”
Triple Crown winner Shaun Murphy let a 3-0 lead slip to bow out 5-3 at the hands of Xu Si. World number 59 Xu crafted breaks of 70, 53 and 131 whilst taking five on the bounce to turn the tie on its head and earn a clash with Andrew Higginson in the next round.
Marco Fu put on a quickfire display to brush aside four-time World Champion Mark Selby 5-1.
The Hong Kong cueman averaged just 16 seconds a shot on his way to victory. Fu fired in breaks of 60, 76 and 98 during the win and now faces Alfie Davies.
FU REFLECTS ON SELBY ROUT
Marco plays a lot better since he plays faster.I can relate to that. My eyesight also changed for the worse in recent years (I’m much older than Marco) and usually when I try to really focus on an object it’s not working. I’m better t trust what I see at first sight…
This is one strange report… no word whatsoever about the “main” evening match. Judd Trump demolished the “local” boy, Lukas Kleckers by 5-0 on the main table. It was hard to watch. Lukas is a far better players than what he showed yesterday. The occasion got to him, he didn’t start well and that only made it worse. Judd himself didn’t play particularly well but he didn’t need to.
No mention either of Julien Leclercq 5- 2win over Barry Pinches. Barry Pinches isn’t on the main tour anymore but he’s a wile old fox and he still can play. That match featured a break over 60 in every frame bar one.
Nothing about the hard battle Mark Allen faced: he needed to win the last two frames to beat “Quid” in a match that went the distance.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 
Very happy for Fu. It’s good to see him climbing his way back to winning matches and beating top players.
Brecel’s season is kind of a joke so far. I understand post-World Championship blues, but this i9s getting absurd.
And the “race to Ryadh”. Just sickening.
Robertson is back! 5-0, 5-1, 5-0 his latest results.