BUDAPEST, April 17 (Xinhua) -- Italy and Hungary triumphed on the first day of Ice Hockey World Championship Division I Group A in Budapest on Sunday.

The Italian team defeated the Spanish side 2-0, while the Hungarian team beat the Dutch team 7-3.

Italy will play against Netherlands, while Hungary faces South Korea on Monday.

Hungary, Italy, South Korea, the Netherlands and Spain are competing to win the tournament and thus qualify for the world elite of 16 teams.

This year's Division I Ice Hockey World Championship will run until April 23.