Murphy went down to Andy Hicks

Four seeded players became high-profile first-round casualties at the Shanghai Masters on Wednesday.

Former world champions Shaun Murphy and Peter Ebdon, world Championship finalist Ali Carter and home favourite Ding Junhui were all knocked out.

Andy Hicks defeated 2005 world champion Murphy 5-1, while Ebdon squandered a 3-2 lead to lose 5-3 to Stuart Bingham.

Ding lost 5-3 to England's Dave Harold and Carter was beaten 5-2 by former world champion Mark Williams.

The Welshman, ranked 22nd in the world, will face Jamie Cope in the next round after the latter received a bye to the last 16 because Graeme Dott broke his left arm playing football.

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The Scot will return to Britain on Thursday to undergo surgery, but hopes to be fit for Royal London Watches Grand Prix in Glasgow, which starts on 11 October.

Harold's victory over Ding will see him face fellow veteran Steve Davis, while Hicks will play Marco Fu, 5-2 win over over Anthony Hamilton, in the last 16.

Bingham will be challenged by world number two and defending champion Stephen Maguire, who defeated Barry Hawkins 5-3.

Ryan Day, last year's runner-up set up a last-16 encounter against former world champion John Higgins, who dished out a 5-0 drubbing to Liang Wenbo.