Matt Finished By By Super Higgins

Apr 20 2008

DEFENDING champion John Higgins eased through the first round of the 888.com World Championship with a convincing win over two-time Crucible finalist Matthew Stevens.

The Scots potter shrugged off a sluggish start against the world No.20 to run out a 10-5 winner in the first round in Sheffield.

An upset looked on the cards when Stevens took a 2-1 lead with the Welshman only missing the chance of a maximum 147 break in the third frame when he ran out of position on the final red.

But the world No.1 hit back in devastating style by reeling off six frames in a row to take a commanding 7-2 lead after the first two sessions.

Stevens rallied with runs of 52, 58 and 41 in the evening session but two-time world champion Higgins closed the match out with impressive breaks of 75, 124 and 103.

The 32-year-old Scot said: "I nicked a frame to level it and then scored heavily.

"I was a bit gutted I drew Matthew because he's one of the tougher players but you've got to score heavy to win this championship.

"I'm in the mood to score heavy and when I'm in that mood I suppose I've got every chance."

Stevens said: "I came out firing but he played well so I can't complain.

"I had a chance to get a maximum but put a red on the cushion when I was on 41 so I always knew it was going to be tough to get it."

Higgins now faces either Welshman Ryan Day or Irish qualifier Michael Judge in the second round on Friday as he chases this year's £250,000 first prize.

Elsewhere, former world champion Peter Ebdon battled back from 5-2 down to Stoke young gun Jamie Cope to reduce his arrears to just one frame at 5-4.

The pair play to a finish today as does Aussie Neil Robertson who leads Nigel Bond 7-2.

Belfast's Joe Swail also has one foot in the second round after taking a 7-2 lead against Englishman Stephen Lee.

Scotland's seven-times world champion Stephen Hendry begins his Crucible challenge today against Belfast's Mark Allen.