Serby, Trump reach second round at snooker China Open

BEIJING - Top players including Mark Serby, Judo Trump and John Higgins all advanced to the second round of the 2015 World Snooker China Open on Tuesday.

Serby established a 3-0 advantage before Mark Joyce hit back with a 99-point and a 52-point break in the following two frames. The World No.1 again edged 57-52 in the sixth and won the eighth after hitting a key long-shot red.

Trump built a 2-0 lead against Andrew Higginson. The latter then took one frame back 130-0 before Trump regained the two-frame lead with 112-1. Higginson won two straight frames later but Trump finally progressed through the first round 5-3.

Trump will face Peter Ebdon in the second round.

"It will be a tough game, he is a tough player," said Trump. "It's a different challenge for me."

"Wizard" John Higgins defeated home player Yu Delu 5-3 earlier on Tuesday, with a top run of 114 points in the seventh frame.

Marco Fu made the maximum break of the tournament ever with 133 points in the morning game, upsetting Ashley Carty 5-0.

Chinese rookie Zhao Xintong went off to a 2-0 start against Mark Williams, but the two-time world champion then won five games in a row to seal a thrilling comeback win.