NEWPORT'S Ian Preece had to survive an incredible comeback from young Essex player Alex Davies in order to continue his presence in snooker's 888.com World Championships qualifiers in Prestatyn.

Preece was cruising at 7-2 and on course towards an early night after the first session as he powered past his 20-year-old opponent.

However, he lost his way after that and just about managed to come through after winning a final frame shoot-out to score a 10-9 victory and set-up a meeting with Telford's Adrian Gunnell in the next qualifying round.

But Barry's Paul Davies has gone out of the tournament in his first match - and it was another Welshman who took the 37-year-old's scalp.

Rhyl's Gareth Coppack, whose place on the main tour was secured by winning the Welsh title last season, battled frame-for-frame with Davies as the pair were locked together in the first session at 4-4.

And they kept at it as the match reached its conclusion, with Coppack going through to meet 1991 world champion John Parrott in the next round via a 10-8 victory.

Newbridge's Lee Walker put in a huge late surge before going out of the Championships at the first qualifying round stage.

Walker found himself 8-4 down to China's Liu Chuang in the first-to-ten frames match.

He then won five out of the next six frames to level the match at 9-9 before losing the decider.

Meanwhile, Welsh teenager Michael White, from Neath, beat Hertfordshire's Shailesh Jogia 10-4 in his first appearance in the tournament.