JOHN Parrott suffered a disappointing start to his 20th season as a professional season when he was beaten 5-1 by Accrington's Shokat Ali in the first round of the £597,000 LG Cup at Preston Guild Hall.

The 1991 world champion had not played since being knocked out of last season's Embassy World Championship by Mark Williams six months ago.

Parrott had spent the summer months working on his game after giving up his role of captain on television quiz 'A Question of Sport.'

But the 38-year-old failed to translate his hard work into quality snooker as he failed to make the most of his opportunities.

"I lost comprehensively and I've only got myself to blame because in the frames where I had chances they were very good chances and I didn't take them," Parrott said.

"Shokat played the best snooker he's ever played against me and scored great in the balls.

"There are no easy games and I was rusty match-wise but my standard of play was not acceptable.

"He had a couple of crucial flukes but it was mostly my fault I lost."

Ali, the Pakistan number one, was beaten 5-4 by Parrott in the corresponding stage of last year's event and lost 10-9 to the Liverpudlian from 9-7 ahead in the world championship qualifiers last March.

He recovered from the loss of the opening frame to storm into a 3-1 lead with breaks of 64, 51 and 95.

Parrott attempted a risky double on the black in the fifth frame and Ali stroked it in to lead 4-1 before a run of 98 completed victory and set up a second round tie against world number 15 Alan McManus.

"I owed John after he beat me twice last season," Ali said. "I'm pleased because it keeps my season going.

"There are only six events this season so any win keeps me involved. If I play like I did against John I feel I can go a long way in this tournament."

Ali was to face Alan McManus in the second round today - and a clash with defending champion Stephen Lee awaits in the last 16. retained his grip on the LG Cup in Preston but only after receiving a scare from Welsh qualifier Ryan Day.

The defending champion became the first player to reach the last 16 courtesy of a 5-4 win over the newcomer of the year.

He did so with a brilliant clearance of 141 and a vital 52 in the decider, started by a fluked opening red.

Lee might have won with a bit to spare but for a restless spectator in the Guild Hall audience. He was nicely among the balls when distracted by some crowd movement.

"It was right in front of me and I saw the movement just as I hit the white ball," confirmed the 27-year-old world number seven from Trowbridge.

"I'm not having a moan and certainly don't hold it against them."

Day won the frame with a break of 57 to set-up the decider but then suffered himself as Lee fortuitously fluked a turning point red.

"I had a bit of run to be fair," agreed the Wiltshire professional who now faces Alan McManus or Shokat Ali.

"It was good to make the 141 and set a target for the high break prize," added Lee, an early favourite for a £5,000 cash bonus after receiving a similar prize in last week's Regal Masters.

"I set out to make a few big breaks this year though when you get to 70 or 80 you can easily lose concentration.

"However, John Parrott told me if you keep your opponent sat in the chair for a bit longer, it can do some damage early on.

"But this was a good win for me," added Lee who has won two of his three ranking titles in Preston.

"Ryan had already played a match on the table and had a good win over Ali Carter in the first round."

Earlier, Ulsterman Patrick Wallace won his own war of attrition against former top 16 star Dave Harold to reach the last 32.

Wallace came from 2-0 and 4-3 down to edge out his Stoke rival 5-4 after four hours and 34 minutes.

And last season's Scottish Open runner-up David Gray knocked out Thailand's Atthasit Mahitthi 5-1.