Davis beaten by ex-world champ

St Leonards talent Davis lost 5-1 to world number three Mark Williams in the first round of the Shanghai Masters despite taking the lead.

Although Williams eventually prevailed comfortably, world number 19 Davis may well be wondering what might have been having led in four of the six frames.

Davis took the opening frame 76-21 with a top break of 31 and a 44 gave him the initiative in frame two only for Williams to come back and clinch it 59-50 thanks to a 53.

A 67 gave Williams the third 81-0 for a 2-1 lead. Frame four was similar to the second as Davis opened up with a 43, but Williams rallied with an 88 to go 3-1 up at the interval.

Williams moved within one of victory by claiming frame five 69-5 courtesy of a closing 48. The Welshman began the sixth with a 33 and although Davis replied with a 54, Williams eventually won it 67-54.

Davis reached the semi-finals of the first two full ranking events this season in China and Australia, as well as winning the Six Reds World Championship in Thailand.