Judd Trump advances to third round after seeing off Ashley Hugill challenge at the European Masters 2022

Judd Trump overcame a stern test against Ashley Hugill to reach the third round of the European Masters.

The 2019 world champion, a two-time winner of this event, won through 5-3 to book a meeting with Andrew Higginson on Thursday afternoon.

Trump was first to put points on the board, but he was stopped in his tracks on 47 when attempting a difficult pink.

Hugill was able to score 42 but could not close out the frame, with Trump winning the crucial safety exchange to take the lead.

“You get the feeling it might not be his night,” Eurosport co-commentator Alan McManus then said of Hugill after he accidentally potted a red as well as the black at the start of the second frame.

With the pack of reds slightly open, it handed Trump a big chance to double his advantage, which he seized with a mighty 118.

Hugill was at least able to reduce the deficit when winning the third frame, but a 63 from Trump in the fourth helped him lead 3-1 at the interval.

After the break, Trump moved within a frame of victory when a 54 proved to be enough, but Hugill kept the match going when making it 4-2.

Hugill had a chance to win the seventh frame as well, but he could not pot the black and presented Trump with a chance to clear the table.

Trump looked set to do just that, but overran the white when moving onto the colours, meaning he led 52-46 as a safety battle on the yellow followed.

It was Trump who accidentally went in-off to hand Hugill four points, but with the yellow safe another safety tussle ensued.

In the end, it was Trump who missed a long yellow, gifting Hugill the pot and eventually the frame to make it 4-3.

Looking to avoid a decider, Trump was presented with an opportunity to close out the match, and a break of 81 did just that.

Elsewhere, Mark Williams enjoyed a comfortable 5-2 win over Sanderson Lam, while Jack Lisowski beat Matthew Stevens by the same scoreline.

Wednesday results

Second round

10:00 BST

• Michael Judge 3-4 Daniel Wells
• Zhang Anda 3-5 Shaun Murphy
• Oliver Lines 1-5 Andrew Higginson
• Farakh Ajaib 5-2 Barry Pinches
• Li Hang v Zhao Xintong (walkover)
• Dylan Emery 4-5 Yan Bingtao

14.30 BST

• Lyu Haotian 1-5 Kyren Wilson
• Jackson Page 5-1 Yuan Sijun
• Stuart Carrington 5-3 Jordan Brown
• Aaron Hill 2-5 Barry Hawkins
• Jak Jones 2-5 Robert Milkins
• Mark Joyce 5-2 Sean O’Sullivan

19.00 BST

• Judd Trump 5-3 Ashley Hugill
• Mark Williams 5-2 Sanderson Lam
• Dominic Dale 4-3 Jimmy White
• Jack Lisowski 5-2 Matthew Stevens
• Mitchell Mann 1-5 Ricky Walden
• Anthony Hamilton 3-3 Jamie Jones