Bond struggled for form last season and slipped to 29th in the world

Nigel Bond bowed out of the Shanghai Masters in the first round with an agonising 5-4 defeat against Marco Fu.

The Derbyshire cueman, 43, lost the opening frame of the first ranking event of the season, but breaks of 85 and 73 saw him go 2-1 up.

Fu fought back to edge 3-2 ahead but Bond once again levelled the scores with a fine 71 and the pair exchanged scrappy frames to force a decider.

And Fu held his nerve in a tense safety battle on the colours to win through.

Bond had secured his place in the main draw with a tight win over China's Yu Delu in the wildcard round.

Bond had looked to be crashing out but Yu missed a crucial blue that would have given him victory and Bond took advantage to edge through.

Bond, who turned professional in 1989, is currently ranked 29th in the world.

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