Defending champion and world number two Stephen Maguire was sent crashing out of the China Open at the first hurdle today by Dave Harold, ranked 28th in the world.

With only one ranking title to his name, Harold raced to a two-hour, 5-0 victory over Maguire in their first-round encounter. Despite the difference between the pair's rankings, however, it is the fourth time Harold has triumphed over Maguire in four meetings.

"It was very, very bad. I don't know how to sum it up without swearing," Maguire said.

Harold's win set up a second-round meeting with Peter Ebdon, who overcame local wildcard Tang Jun 5-2.

World number five John Higgins also made it through to the next phase but in somewhat less comfortable style, coming back from 4-0 down to complete a 5-4 victory over Anthony Hamilton. Joe Perry was another high-profile first-round casualty. Last year's World Championship semi-finalist succumbed 5-2 to qualifier Ricky Walden.

Walden, the 2008 Roewe Shanghai Masters Champion, made it eight consecutive wins in China with the victory and will now take on the winner of Stephen Hendry's match with Robert Milkins.