HOME favourites Dominic Dale, Matthew Stevens, Andrew Pagett and Michael White are all in action at the Bet Victor Welsh Open snooker today.

Dale takes on Thailand’s Dechawat Poomjaeng at 10.30am at the Newport Centre and Stevens faces Ian Burns at 1pm.

Blackwood’s Pagett is up against Gerard Greene later in the afternoon session and White takes on China’s Xiao Guodong at 7pm.

The other highlight of the day is the clash of two former world champions this evening as 1997 Crucible king Ken Doherty goes up against four-time champ John Higgins.

Gwent’s former world champ Mark Williams edged a 4-3 win over Michael Wasley on Saturday, then took his boys for a swim in the Newport Centre pool.

Williams stumbled into the last 64 with a nervy win against world number 78 Wasley and will now face China's Tian Pengfei.

Wasley started better and secured the opening frame but Williams – who has won 18 ranking titles including two World Championships – battled back to take three of the next four to lead 3-2.

In the sixth he looked set for victory until he missed a sitter of a red to a baulk corner, leading 60-6. Wasley made a fine 51 clearance to force the decider.

Both players missed chances, Williams notably missing the black with one red left at 45-17. But he made amends with a superb long pot on the last red, which proved decisive.

“I played alright, I just missed a few long ones which I can't say I normally get because I haven't got them for a few years now,” said the Cwm potter.

“I had the match in my hand but nearly threw it away and I suppose I am a bit lucky to get through.

“I'm trying too hard to be honest, my form is not great and I'm just trying a little too hard to pot balls that you should pot, and then missing a lot of them.

“I'm still in it and I know I have to play better than that.”

Before heading to the pool with sons Connor and Kian, Williams joked: “I have to take the boys next door now. I would have enjoyed it whether I'd won or lost. Mind you, if I'd lost I would have drowned the pair of them!”

There was no such luck for Cwmbran’s Jak Jones on Saturday as went down to a 4-2 defeat to Liang Wenbo.

Fellow Welshman Daniel Wells was also beaten but Ryan Day and Jamie Jones made it seven home hopes through to round two.