Local favourite Mark Allen slumped to a first round exit at the Northern Ireland Trophy on Monday.
Mark Allen crashed out to Welshman Ryan Day
The 20-year-old Antrim potter attracted plenty of home support at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast, but crashed 5-1 to Welshman Ryan Day.
"There were a few people in the crowd cheering him on, but as soon as I started knocking in some breaks they went a bit quiet," said Bridgend's Day.
"I was quite nervous starting off, but once I got going I played well."
Day will now play Beckenham's Barry Hawkins in the second round on Tuesday.
World number 21 Michael Holt suffered a shock first-round defeat by qualifier Mike Dunn.
The Nottingham potter, three times a ranking quarter-finalist, was beaten 5-2 by Cleveland's Dunn, a player ranked 34 places below him in the world standings.
China's Ding Junhui outlasted Paul Davies 5-4, while his compatriot Tian Pengfei was a 5-3 winner over Andy Hicks.
Earlier on Monday, David Roe won the final frame to edge out Stuart Bingham 5-4.
There was another all-English clash in the morning session, with Ian McCullough easing to a 5-1 success over Matthew Couch.
He now faces seven-times world champion Stephen Hendry in the second round.
The world number 26 from Preston. said: "I play like I did against Matthew, then I have a good chance."
Nigel Bond also progressed to the second round with a 5-1 victory over Dubliner Michael Judge.
Thailand's James Wattana recorded a 5-4 win over Pontefract potter Jimmy Michie, knocking in breaks of 44, 61, 59 and 64.