PAUL DAVISON enjoyed little luck as he was beaten 4-1 by Ricky Walden in the first round of the Welsh Open.

Not only did the Pickering professional draw another top 16-ranked player at the last 128 stage of a ranking tournament but he didn’t enjoy the run of the balls in the best-of-seven frames encounter in Newport.

Opening with a break of 54 and getting another chance to take the first frame after Walden broke down on 47, Davison left a very difficult yellow off a side cushion in the jaws of the green pocket and his opponent cleared to the pink.

Another tough red, to the bottom right corner, wobbled and stayed out and cost Davison the second frame but he battled hard in the third to reduce the deficit.

Walden went 3-1 in front with a classy break of 88 but Davison looked to have a great chance in the fifth frame but fortune deserted him once more.

Potting the blue into the middle pocket, he split the pack only to see a red drop into the bottom left corner and Walden responded with a quick-fire 73 to book a second round berth.