Judd Trump cruises past Craig Steadman 4-1 to reach third round of Welsh Open, John Higgins also through

Updated 01/03/2022 at 23:31 GMT

Judd Trump saw off Craig Steadman 4-1 to reach the third round of the Welsh Open at Celtic Manor. Trump began Tuesday evening's encounter in fine fettle and though Steadman levelled the match at 1-1 each after going behind, Trump took the final three frames to set up an encounter with China's Si Jiahui. John Higgins also won through, hitting two centuries to get past Soleil Vahedi.

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Judd Trump booked his place in the third round of the Welsh Open with a comfortable 4-1 win over Craig Steadman.

Trump marched into an early lead at Celtic Manor with a break of 58 against his opponent Steadman, ranked 98 in the world.

Trump looked in the mood early on but Steadman levelled things up at one frame apiece following a visit of 70.

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The third frame felt crucial and it turned out that way. Trump had as many as four chances to seal the frame, but only took it with his final one, as he finally made Steadman pay for a series of errors.

Trump made further hay in the fourth, notching a break of 108 that followed a hit-and-hope red to put himself one frame away from victory.

And he duly wrapped it up in the fifth and ultimately final frame, compiling an impressive 120 - involving a meticulous late cannon - to make it back-to-back centuries.

Steadman will know he had chances to get one over on Trump - who for large parts wasn't at his fluent best - but his failure to capitalise on the world No. 3's mistakes in the fourth frame in particular cost him dearly.

Trump goes on to face 19-year-old Si Jiahui from China in the third round.

John Higgins had a similarly comfortable Tuesday evening up against Iran's Soleil Vahedi.

The Wizard of Wishaw was at his commanding best from the off, rattling in a ton to kick off proceedings and take the first frame.

Higgins raced into a 70-point lead in the second as he threatened to make extremely light work of his opponent. But a missed back let Vahedi in, and though he couldn't level up the score - Higgins taking the frame 94-32 - at least it allowed the Iranian to spend some time amongst the balls.

But that seemed immaterial in the third as Higgins - a record five-time Welsh Open winner - put together a brilliant break of 110 to leave the commentators looking for superlatives - and his opponent needing a miracle.

Regrettably for Vahedi, that didn't materialise as Higgins closed out the match with yet another 50+ visit.

Mark Allen was another Englishman to secure his passage to the next round in Newport, dispatching 16-year-old Ukrainian Iulian Boiko 4-0.

Boiko has been candid about how difficult it has been to focus on his snooker given events in his home country, as well as the support he has received this week during his run to the second round.

Fergal O'Brien and Matthew Selt also won through to the third round in Tuesday night's action in Newport.