Ronnie O'Sullivan, Peter Ebdon, Shaun Murphy and Joe Swail all won the first three of the five matches each will play in their round-robin groups, as they attempt to be among the 16 qualifiers for the knockout stages of the Royal London Watches Grand Prix in Aberdeen.

O'Sullivan had two 4-0 wins but despite making three centuries - 123, 119, and 100 - was being held 3-3 by Tom Ford, who was 13 in front with the last four colours remaining in the deciding frame before the twice world champion coolly regained control with a snooker.

Ebdon beat China's Liu Song 4-3 and was taken the distance by Joe Delaney but had breaks of 92, 95, 97 and 110 in beating Matthew Stevens 4-1.