Mumbai: Aditya Mehta kept the home country's hopes alive in the Indian Open World Ranking Snooker Tournament as he scored his first-ever victory over higher ranked Mark King of England 4-3 to enter the second round on Thursday.

Mehta took a handy 3-0 lead before his rival, who has beaten the Indian professional in all their four previous meetings, clawed his way back to take the next three and draw level after the Indian ace muffed a simple black pot that would have given him a 4-1 victory.