Provisional world number one Ken Doherty and defending champion Ding Junhui edged ahead in their matches.

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Liu's compatriot Ding Junhui also received a tough draw as he will face Hong Kong's Marco Fu.

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And local favourite Gerard Greene went through with an impressive 5-2 win over Steve Davis along with Ding Junhui.

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It will be his first final appearance since the China Open in April 2005, which he lost to Ding Junhui.

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Top seed Ding Junhui, of China, ensured his progression with a 9-7 win over Welshman Ryan Day, scoring century breaks in frames six and seven.

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Holt believes playing at Prestatyn's Pontin's holiday camp can be a testing experience, as UK champion Ding Junhui, found out when he lost his final qualifier 10-6 to rising star Barry Hawkins.

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It was Davis who came out on top, thanks to a break of 54 in the ninth frame, and he will play either Ding Junhui or Dave Harold in the last 16 on Thursday.

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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.

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Both players won four out of five group games, Murphy finishing with a 4-3 win over Ding Junhui, and Fu beating Stuart Bingham by the same score, but Murphy finished top of the group on frame difference.

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