Thailand's top seed Ratchanok Intanon was a more expected winner in the corresponding women's event at the North Shore Events Centre.

Lee, playing in his first ever final at a BWF Grand Prix Gold event, recovered from a game down to shock Taiwan's top seed Tzu Wei Wang.

He belied his status as a non-seed to save four match points in the decided before triumphing 11-21, 21-15, 22-20.

"When I was down 20-16 in the third game I just relaxed because I thought I had lost," Lee admitted.

"But somehow in the end I got there.

"I now know I can do it, I can trust myself to win against some of the top players in the world."

Intanon narrowly avoided suffering a similar upset as the 2013 champion recovered from losing the second set before winning 21-14, 16-21, 21-15 against Saena Kawakami of Japan.

"I was very well prepared and I was excited to be playing but it’s good to have finished with the win," she said.

Malaysia's Commonwealth Games gold medalists Vivian Hoo and Woon Khe Wei dropped the opening game against Japan’s Ayako Sakuramoto and Yukiko Takahata in the women's doubles.

They eventually recovered to win 18-21 21-16 21-19.

Taiwan's Chen Hung Ling and Wang Chi-Li were more comfortable in beating Malaysians Ong Yew Sin and Teo Ee Yi 21-16 21-18 in the men's doubles.

Unseeded Indonesian duo Ronald and Annisa Saufika were surprise mixed doubles winners after defeating Australian eighth seeds Sawan Serasinghe and Setyana Mapasa 21-19 21-14.