Andy Hicks produced a relentless flow of scoring to send World No. 6 Matthew Stevens crashing out of the Totesport Grand Prix at the first hurdle.

Stevens started brightly enough with a break of 67, but from thereon it was more or less one way traffic as Hicks, who inflicted a 5-1 defeat on China's Ding Junhui to qualify, constructed breaks of 106, 35 and 34, 129, 51 and 80, rounding off with 70.

And Hicks, oozing a new found confidence, was delighted to have carried on the form that took him to the World Championship quarter finals last season.

"I think that’s the best I’ve ever played.  It’s been a long time coming, but I’m playing well and maybe a few players fear me now."

Stevens, meanwhile, was naturally downcast, although full of praise for Hicks' superb performance.

"Andy couldn’t have played much better. I don’t think it would have made much difference who he played – he’d have probably still won."

Australian Neil Robertson was also in giant killing mode, beating Michael Holt 5-2.

Nottingham's Holt took the first with a break of 48, and the pair shared the next two frames, Robertson contributing 72 and Holt 73. Robertson snatched a close fourth to draw level and after the interval he took control of the match.

He clinched frame five with ease, and opened a two frame gap as a break of 41 was enough to take the sixth, and a break of 54 secured his win in the next.

Hicks and Robertson now face each other in Round Two, in what promises to be a fast and furious feast of potting.

RESOURCES

2004 GRAND PRIX

TOTESPORT

RESULTS

Frame Scores:

Ronnie O'Sullivan 5-2 Mark Davis

66(58)-1, 115(115)-0, 4-69(69), 55(41)-12, 69(62)-9, 1-100(100), 66(53)-25

Dominic Dale 5-1 Scott MacKenzie

77(68)-39, 89(61)-12, 65-56, 67-89(56), 108(108)-0, 67(58)-66(51)

Ken Doherty 5-1 Anthony Davies

76-46, 38(38)-78(55), 100(71)-28, 71-48, 87-17, 69-38

Joe Swail 5-3 Mike Dunn

63-52(45), 40-67, 98(98)-0, 58(51)-70, 63-48, 73-29, 25-61, 66-56(5)

Andy Hicks 5-1 Matthew Stevens

16-75(67), 106(106)-0, 96(35,34)-29, 129(129)-0, 131(51,80)-0, 73(70)-46

Neil Robertson 5-2 Michael Holt

35-81(48), 72(72)-0, 10-73(73), 62-48, 63-9, 60(41)-46, 67(54)-16

Joe Perry 5-1 Shokat Ali

36-67, 100(100)-19, 81(52)-21, 70(40,30)-7, 66-42, 69(42)-45