Robertson Trump
Ranking, Snooker Headlines

Robertson and Trump Win European Masters Openers

Mark Williams and Kyren Wilson were among the others to safely book their spots in the next round.

Neil Robertson and Judd Trump got their European Masters campaigns off to a positive start in Milton Keynes on Monday.

Trump hammered teenage newcomer Iulian Boiko 5-0 while Robertson was forced to fight back from 3-1 down to overcome Akani Songermsawad in a much closer contest that ended 5-3 in favour of the Australian.

Robertson is in the field as the defending champion, around eight months after he completed a memorable 9-0 thumping of Zhou Yuelong to lift the trophy last season in Austria.

As well as vying for the silverware again, Robertson will be hoping to get one foot in front of Trump in the BetVictor European Series as well.

The latter pipped Robertson to the £150,000 bonus in the inaugural European Series during the last campaign, and this edition of the European Masters acts as the first of six tournaments that will count towards the Order of Merit race.

Meanwhile, the performance of the day arguably came from three-time world champion Williams after the Welshman compiled a hat-trick of tons in a 5-0 demolition of Ashley Hugill, who managed to score just eight points across the entire match.

Wilson similarly advanced with ease following a 5-1 triumph against Lee Walker, but John Higgins crashed out after a 5-4 defeat to Martin Gould.

Elsewhere, Jack Lisowski survived a major scare to pip wildcard Brian Ochoiski in a decider, while there were victories for former ranking event winners Ali Carter, Luca Brecel, and Matthew Selt.

Jamie Jones, returning to the Main Tour for the first time since his ban, outplayed fellow Welshman Dominic Dale with countrymen Jamie Clarke and Jackson Page also making it through to the last 64.

There was disappointment for Jimmy White fans as the world seniors champion squandered a 4-2 advantage in a 5-4 loss to Ian Burns.

The “Whirlwind” compiled a 132 break – the 41st consecutive season that he has contributed a century to the list – but he ran out of gas with the winning line in sight.

Elsewhere, Michael Holt, Scott Donaldson, Ben Woollaston, and Martin O’Donnell were among a few of the other players to progress on the first day.

On Tuesday, world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan makes his debut appearance for the 2020/21 term when he takes on Daniel Wells.

Mark Selby, Shaun Murphy, and Stephen Maguire are some of the other marquee names entering the fray.

Live coverage continues on Eurosport.

Click here to view the draw (Times: CET)

Featured photo credit: WST

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