Nevertheless, snooker fans on the Five Live message boards were in little doubt about Ding's potential, both as a player and as a symbol of snooker's new generation.

BBC: SPORT | Other Sport... | Snooker | Could Ding be snooker's saviour?

Ding Junhui, who won the crown in 2005, will play either Ryan Day or fellow Chinese player Liu Song in the second round, when he enters the competition along with the rest of the top 16.

BBC: SPORT | Other Sport... | Snooker | Murphy buoyed by snooker talent