Willie O'Connor shocks Rob Cross as Josh Rock advances at Masters

Willie O'Connor caused an upset as he dumped out one of the pre-tournament favourites Rob Cross in the first round of the Winmau World Masters.

Cross entered the tournament in red-hot form after winning his fifth World Series title last week by claiming the Dutch Masters.

All was going to plan as the world number four won the first set 2-0, and it got even better when the Irishman lost his throw in the first leg of the second set, but he broke back and won the set and the following two as well for a 3-1 win - landing a monster 151 finish to knock out the former world champion.

There was also a 3-1 win for Antrim’s Josh Rock who was too strong for Jermaine Wattimena.

Rock - who got married earlier in the week - won the opening set before he was pegged back by the Dutchman, but he recovered to advance to the last 16.

His reward is a clash with world number one Luke Humphries in the second round on Saturday.

O’Connor, meanwhile, faces Danny Noppert, also on Saturday.

Defending champion Stephen Bunting survived a scare to battle past qualifier William Borland in a final-leg decider and book his place in the last 16 of the Winmau World Masters.

Additional reporting: PA