Lim, fresh from his triumph at the ITTF Challenge Polish Open earlier this year, claimed a shock 11-7, 9-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-6 win to progress to the second round at the Sports Center Gymnasium.

The South Korean player, a semi-finalist at the recent Hong Kong Open, said it was an "honour" to beat one of his idols.

"It’s a great pleasure and honour to win," he said. 

"Xu Xin wasn’t in his best state today; he did not control the play well and I took my chances. 

"I like Xu Xin and have learned a lot from him. 

"I started to watch his matches on video when I was around 15 years old."

Lim's triumph came on a successful day for South Korea as Jang Woo-jin dispatched 14th seed Marcos Freitas of Portugal 11-6, 12-14, 11-3, 11-6, 11-7.

Top seed Fan Zhendong of China, the current world number one and World Championships silver medallist, had no such worries as he battled to a 5-11, 11-5, 11-2, 13-11, 9-11, 11-8 victory over Jeoung Young-sik of South Korea.

Wong Chun Ting, the sixth seed from Hong Kong, is also through as he battled from two games down to oust Austria’s Robert Gardos 7-11, 8-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-7, 11-7.

Former world number one Zhu Yuling of China was among the winners in the first round of the women's singles event.

Zhu booked her place in round two with a 11-4, 11-6, 6-11, 11-8, 11-7 win against Minami Ando of Japan.

Jeon Ji-hee of South Korea also progressed as she beat Cheng I-Ching of Chinese Taipei 14-12, 7-11, 6-11, 11-9, 11-9, 8-11, 17-15 in a marathon contest.