Evans sits joint top of Group A after the opening day of group play at the Ding Junhui Snooker Academy following a 3-0 win over compatriot Laura Killington.

Alongside Evans at the top of Group A is compatriot Mary Talbot-Deegan, who also ran out a 3-0 winner over Scotland’s Sophie Nix.

The runner-up at the previous edition in 2019 Nutcharut Wongharuthai of Thailand is playing in Group C, and triumphed in her match on the opening day, beating Lynn Shi of China 3-0.

Lilly Meldrum of Australia currently tops Group C, with the 13-year-old winning 3-0 against Shi, before beating edged out 3-2 by Jamie Hunter of England.

Meldrum currently leads the group on frames won and is set to face Wongharuthai tomorrow.

Ng On Yee of Hong Kong, who has won this Championship three times, won 3-0 in her opening match against Elizabeth Black of England and sits top of Group B.

Elsewhere two players recorded two successive 3-0 wins to top their respective groups with the best records possible after day one.

Dalia Alska of Poland leads Group K after 3-0 wins over Connie Stephens of England and Danielle Leadbeater of Guernsey.

England’s Tessa Davidson leads Group G with the same record after 3-0 wins today against compatriots Sarah Dunn and Sharon Metcalf.

The best eight group winners will advance to the round of 16, with the remaining 16 players in the top two of each of the 12 groups facing a preliminary round match to join them in the next phase of the tournament.

Group play is due to conclude tomorrow with matches won the first criteria used to determine the final group placings, followed by head-to-head records and frames won.