The 31-year-old led 6-3 overnight and needed just 51 minutes in today’s morning session to add the four frames he needed, making breaks of 61, 78, 51 and 98 at the Crucible Theatre.

Ding, the world number three, will play either Scotland's Anthony McGill or Welshman Ryan Day in the second round.

Xiao had led 2-0 after yesterday’s first session, but Ding won six of the next seven frames to put himself into a strong position going into today.

"I played well in the end," Ding, who scored one century and seven breaks of more than 50, said.

"I just went for my shots and made some breaks.

"I didn’t play a lot of safety.

"I just went for the shots without caring.

"It surprised me."

In the afternoon session, English qualifier Ricky Walden, a semi-finalist in 2013, close out a 10-6 first-round victory over Belgium's Luca Brecel.

It sets up a second-round meeting with the winner of the all-English encounter between Judd Trump and Chris Wakelin.

Today also saw Stuart Bingham lose 10-7 to fellow Englishman Jack Lisowski.

Double world champion Mark Williams of Wales leads England’s Jimmy Robertson 7-2 after their first nine frames.

Another former winner, Australia's Neil Robertson, is trailing England’s Robert Milkins 6-3 at the same stage.

Action in Sheffield is due to continue tomorrow.

The final is scheduled to take place on May 6 and 7.