 Perry was an 80-1 shot before the tournament began |
Joe Perry reached the second round of the Welsh Open with victory over John Parrott in Newport. Perry found a good run of form, including a 127 break, as he got the better of Parrott 5-2.
"The game is wide open and if you can play really well and things go your way you can win a tournament," said Perry.
Also through to the second round is Nigel Bond, who gained revenge over Chinese teenager Liang Wenbo to reach the second round of the Welsh Open.
The Englishman, who lost 5-0 to Liang in Newport 12 months ago, completed a 5-3 victory to set up a clash with defending champion Stephen Lee.
Scotland's Alan McManus, the Welsh Open runner-up in 1993 and 1994, defeated Liverpool's Rod Lawler 5-2.
England's Stuart Bingham ran in a final-frame break of 115 to beat Dubliner Joe Delaney 5-0 in Newport.
McManus will next meet compatriot Stephen Maguire while Ali Carter will take on Bingham.
Bond managed a highest break of just 16 in his defeat to Liang last year but compiled breaks of 65, 68 and 70 in building up a 3-0 lead.
Liang, 19, shaded a scrappy fourth frame and made a break of 86 in the fifth to trail only 3-2.
Bond won the sixth but lost position on the green clearing up in the seventh, which Liang eventually won with a brown to black clearance.
He had chances to make it 4-4 before Bond finally got over the winning line in the eighth.
"I probably should have been 4-0 up and could have won 5-2 but that's what happens when you are struggling. You don't take the game by the scruff of the neck," Bond said.
"I started off really well but because I've struggled to win matches lately it was hard to get over the line.
"But a win is a win however you look at it and I'm just pleased to get through."
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