World number one Judd Trump reached round two of the World Snooker Championship after a comfortable win over Liam Highfield ©Getty Images

World number one Judd Trump completed a comfortable victory to reach the second round of the World Snooker Championship at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.

Trump, who has already won five ranking titles this season, started the second session of his match against fellow Englishman Liam Highfield with a 7-2 lead.

In his 11th consecutive appearance at the World Championship, Trump always looked in control of his match against Highfield, who earned the consolation of the match’s highest break of 138.

A frame after Highfield’s high break, Trump made a break of 52 to complete a 10-4 victory.

Former champion Mark Williams of Wales also progressed to the second round today as he comfortably beat England’s Sam Craigie, who was making his debut at the tournament.

Craigie took an early lead in the contest before Williams battled back to lead 5-4 after the morning’s first session.

Three-time world champion Williams, whose last triumph came in 2018, dominated proceedings in the evening as he reeled off five straight frames, including a highest break of 94, on his way to a 10-4 victory.

Mark Williams of Wales will face John Higgins in a rematch of the 2018 final, after he beat Crucible debutant Sam Craigie ©Getty Images
Mark Williams of Wales will face John Higgins in a rematch of the 2018 final, after he beat Crucible debutant Sam Craigie ©Getty Images

Following his win today, Williams now plays Scotland’s John Higgins, whom he beat 18-16 in that 2018 final, in the second round, with the eagerly anticipated best of 25 frame contest set to begin on Friday (April 23).

The third player to reach round two on the fifth day of action was England’s Barry Hawkins, who also ran out a comfortable victor, 10-3 against compatriot Matthew Selt.

Hawkins resumed with a 6-3 lead and he came out flying in the evening session, reeling off four straight frames, including a highest break of 126, to seal an impressive win.

Elsewhere in the first round matches which played their opening sessions today, an all English affair saw world number 45 Mark Davis take a 5-4 lead against compatriot and 2005 world champion Shaun Murphy.

Three-time world champion Mark Selby of England emphatically outplayed his opponent Kurt Maflin of Norway, opening up an 8-1 advantage, which included a top break of 142.

Those two matches are scheduled to conclude tomorrow while the second round also gets underway with the first sessions between defending champion Ronnie O’Sullivan of England up against Anthony McGill of Scotland, and Australian Neil Robertson taking on England’s Jack Lisowski.