Luke Humphries stayed on course for a second World Grand Prix triumph in Leicester after a hard-fought 2-0 first-round win over Dave Chisnall.
Bidding to avoid an upset after Monday night's shock defeat for Luke Littler against Luke Woodhouse, world No. 2 Humphries was rarely at his best at the Mattioli Arena.
But he edged the opening set against two-time runner-up Chisnall, who then missed his checkout on 10 to level it up at 2-2 in the second and Humphries closed out the match.
European champion Gian van Veen staved off a second-set fightback by fellow Dutchman Dirk van Duijvenbode to win 2-0 and notch his first World Grand Prix victory.
World number three Van Veen swept to a 3-0 first-set win and led 2-0 in the second before van Duijvenbode levelled it up at 2-2 and then let his opponent off the hook by missing double 16 to take the set.
Niels Zonneveld sealed a 2-1 win against Northern Ireland's world number seven Josh Rock, with superb final-set finishes of 103, 116, and 133, while Gary Anderson won five straight legs to complete a 2-1 comeback win against Australian Damon Heta.
Two-time former champion James Wade also fought back after losing the opening set to beat Joe Cullen 2-1, while Jermaine Wattimena, Ryan Searle and Stephen Bunting also won.