Former world champion Mark Williams made a winning start to the new season with victory in the first round of the Northern Ireland Trophy in Belfast yesterday.

The two-time Crucible winner was in trouble at 3-1 down to Scottish qualifier Marcus Campbell at the Waterfront Hall.

But the Welshman dug deep to win the next four frames in a row for a gutsy 5-3 win and a place in the next round.

"I felt I played OK really," reflected Williams, who dropped out of the elite 16 rankings last season. I made a few good breaks. My safety wasn't too good, but overall I've got to be happy with the win because that's all I wanted.

"I needed to win this game to get off to a good start. I've got my first round points and hopefully I can get some more to help push me up the rankings rather than the wrong way down.

"I want to do well in every tournament, but the main aim is to get back into the top 16 again so I don't have to go to the qualifiers."

Campbell started the better of the two players and led 2-0 thanks to a break of 71 and two runs of 30 in the next frame. Williams hit back with a 74 break, only for Dumbarton's Campbell to edge ahead again after a scrappy frame prior to the mid-session interval.

The Scot had chances to edge 4-1 ahead, but failed to take his chances and Williams moved up a gear. Next up for Williams is a second-round meeting with world number three Shaun Murphy, last season's Malta Cup champion.

Other winners on the first day of this year's £200,500 event were Ian McCulloch and Dave Harold.

Preston potter McCulloch beat Redcar's Mike Dunn 5-4, while Stoke professional Harold impressed with a 5-2 victory over Flintshire qualifier Ricky Walden

Today’s games: (1.00pm start) Joe Swail (NIrl) v Mark Davis (Eng); Barry Hawkins (Eng) v Jimmy White (Eng); Nigel Bond (Eng) v Stuart Pettman (Eng).

Roll on, roll off (matches to immediately follow): Fergal O'Brien (Irl) v Michael Holt (Eng); Stuart Bingham (Eng) v Rory McLeod (Eng); Anthony Hamilton (Eng) v Andrew Higginson (Eng).

(7.30pm start) Ken Doherty (Irl) v Gerard Greene (NIrl); Jamie Cope (Eng) v David Gray (Eng).