Snooker: Higgins loses in first round of China Open

JOHN Higgins, Judd Trump and defending champion Peter Ebdon all crashed out of the Bank of Beijing China Open in the first round yesterday.

At the penultimate event of the season, world number one Trump suffered a 5-3 defeat at the hands of Jack Lisowski.

The reward for 21-year-old Lisowski, currently ranked 42 in the world, is a last-16 meeting with whoever emerges victorious from the round one contest between Mark Davis and Thailand’s Dechawat Poomjaeng, who overcame Chinese wild card Zhu Yinghui 5-2.

Earlier, four-time world champion Higgins led Robert Milkins 3-1 and 4-3 but the Scot was eventually beaten 5-4.

Ebdon’s defence of his crown came to an early end with a 5-3 loss to Marcus Campbell, whose opponent in the last 16 will be fellow Scotsman Graeme Dott.

Elsewhere, Shaun Murphy saw off Andrew Higginson 5-3 to set up a second-round meeting with Rory McLeod, who beat Matthew Stevens 5-2.

Ali Carter is also through after winning 5-2 against another Chinese wild card, Zhao Xintong.

Carter will meet the victor from the first-round contest between a further home wild card, Lu Haotian, and Mark Williams.

Lu had originally been scheduled to take on Mark Joyce in the early session, but was already through to the last 32 via a bye after his opponent pulled out.