Scott Donaldson and Kurt Maflin made their debuts in the event. The first round of the tournament was played as best-of-seven- matches. Three-time world champion Mark Williams defeated Barry Hawkins 4–2, despite an attack of gout. The 2019 UK Championship winner Ding Junhui met Scott Donaldson (after competed at the previous two tournaments: the 2020 European Masters and the 2020 German Masters), with Donaldson winning both. Donaldson won the match, whitewashing Ding 4–0 and eliminating him at three straight events. Second seed and 2019 China Open champion Shaun Murphy lost to Matthew Stevens, 3–4.