BANGKOK, March 4: Hong Kong’s world No. 17 Marco Fu had expected a smooth sailing in his first match of the 2002 Singha Thailand Masters, but it turned to be a “sticky” affair Monday.

“I found it difficult to get going because it was pretty sticky in there,” said Marco Fu after his 5-3 victory over England’s Gary Wilkinson at the Merchant Court Hotel. The match lasted four hours, 45 minutes.

“The table played well, but I had trouble cueing,” he said, adding: “My game is coming around. I have just been to (former world champion) Terry Griffiths, who has recommended a few changes to my game and I am working on it.

“It is going to take some time before I am comfortable with what Terry has suggested. I am confident that sooner or later I’ll be back among the top 16”.

Marco Fu, who plays world No. 10 Joe Swail of Northern Ireland in the next round, was given a tough fight by veteran professional Wilkinson. The Hong Kong Chinese had a fine start with a break of 87 in the first framed, but Wilkinson fought back to win the next two. Marco then clinched the next three and eventually wrapped up the match 5-3.

Extrovert Australian Quinten Hann had breaks of 52, 67 and 77 to edge talented Scot Stephen Maguire 5-4 in another match in the first session on Monday to set up a clash with world No. 14 Graeme Dott of Wales.

In the third match of the first session Monday, world No. 16 Fergal O’Brien of the Republic of Ireland defeated Mark Davis of England 5-2.

Frame scores: Quinten Hann bt Stephen Maguire 5-4 (69-43, 15-107, 70(52)-53, 71(67)-32, 4-138(87), 15-81, 21-60, 77(77)-4, 57-27); Marco Fu bt Gary Wilkinson 5-3 (92(87)-13, 8-83, 9-68(60), 73-42, 85-4, 64-36, 24-86, 84-2); Fergal O’Brien bt Mark Davis 5-2 (42-58, 100-22, 74-0, 53-19, 15-69, 62-6,80-35).