LONDON, Nov. 28 (Xinhua) -- China's little-known Chen Feilong shocked former world champion Shaun Murphy 6-3 in the first round of the UK Snooker Championship in York on Wednesday.

36-year-old Chen, who is ranked 124th in the world, is playing on the pro tour for the first time this season and had only won one match previously. However, he fought back from 3-1 down to win five consecutive frames to win his most important match to date.

Murphy, who won the world title in 2005 and the 2008 UK championship, has had a disappointing start to the season but was magnanimous in defeat.

"Chen played some great snooker after the interval and he deserved it in the end," said the Englishman. "He potted some outrageous balls when I had him in the long grass. I thought he might twitch a bit towards the end, but he didn't. I can't wallow in self-pity and give up, I have to keep on going."

Chen's Chinese compatriot Li Hang also advanced, beating Welshman Lee Walker 6-3.

Marco Fu of Hong Kong, China kept up his hopes of a place in the Masters by beating England's Hammad Miah 6-0 with a top break of 101.

Fu, now ranked 17th, must reach at least the last 16 in York to qualify for snooker's biggest invitational event, held in London's Alexandra Palace. Fu has played in the Masters every year since 2013.

Ryan Day, ranked 12th, was another top 16 player to be eliminated as he lost 6-2 to world number 121 Joe O'Connor.

2015 world champion Stuart Bingham ended a run of three consecutive defeats by beating James Wattana of Thailand 6-0.

Three-time UK champion John Higgins survived a scare to beat Thailand's amateur cueman Dechawat Poomjaeng 6-5, while Mark Allen enjoyed a comfortable 6-2 win over Basem Eltahhan.