Higgins returns with wins

Higgins had served a six-month suspension for bringing the game into disrepute after being cleared of match-fixing allegations made against him by the News of the World newspaper.

"I was very rusty coming back into it, but I thoroughly enjoyed it," said Higgins.

"Obviously, it was the first match back, so hopefully I can play better. I found the nerves quite difficult, but once you’re out there you try to concentrate on what’s at hand."

Higgins admitted he was as nervous as he was before any of his four appearances in the final of the World Championship.

"I felt very nervous. It was similar (to a world final)," he added. "Every match takes on its own importance and it was a big match for me. When you get down to the nitty-gritty and you’re faced with the pressure balls, then the nerves get to you a little bit. But apart from that I felt quite good."

Higgins was banned for six months in May and later fined £75,000 after undercover reporters working for the newspaper posed as businessmen allegedly offering him large sums of money to throw a match during a meeting in Kiev.

He was punished by World Snooker for being captured on video giving the impression that he was prepared to accept the money to throw frames and for failing to report the meeting to the governing body.

"We are certain it is not just him itching to come back, but also his fans are eager to see him," Thomas Cesal, organiser of the European Players' Tour Championship event in Hamm, Germany, had said.

The Scotsman compared his return to the sport as going for a dentist's appointment.

In his first match since losing to Steve Davis at the World Championship in April, Higgins was quickly into his stride.

He won the first frame 66-9 and made a 50 clearance to pinch the second frame on the black. Jogia, the world number 60, pulled one back with a run of 88 before Higgins claimed a scrappy fourth to move 3-1 ahead.

Higgins lost the next frame on the pink, but a final break of 52 was enough for him to claim victory and a place in the second round.

Higgins went on to thrash Dave Harold in their second-round match later on Friday evening - hitting four breaks over 60 (including a 99 and 93) in a comprehensive 4-0 victory - before edging Martin Gould 4-3 to move into the last-16, where he'll face Tom Ford on Sunday.

The former world number one will play his first match on home soil at the UK Championships in Telford next month.

Barry Pinches 4-3 Ryan Day

Robert Milkens 4-2 Peter Ebdon

Graeme Dott 4-3 Stuart Bingham

Judd Trump 4-0 Anthony McGill

Tom Ford 4-0 Ken Doherty

Martin Gould 3-4 John Higgins

Ricky Walden 4-1 Liam Highfield

Dominic Dale 3-4 Anthony Hamilton