Higgins and Maguire ease through

Former champion John Higgins and world number two Stephen Maguire claimed relatively easy wins to make the World Snooker Championship second round.

Breaks of 131 and 80 guided Higgins past Michael Holt 10-5 to set up a clash with 23-year-old Jamie Cope.

Scot Maguire saw off Jamie Burnett 10-5 in their first tie since December's controversial match that is still being investigated for irregular betting.

Two stunning centuries helped Maguire set up his next tie against Mark King.

Higgins, the world number five from Scotland, began with a 5-4 lead and after two scrappy opening frames a 131 break gave him a healthy 8-5 advantage.

Nottingham's Holt lacked rhythm and consistency and despite a break of 49 in the 15th frame, Higgins sealed the win with an impressive 80 to secure a match with Cope, the conqueror of Joe Perry.

Higgins, who claimed the world crown in 1998 and 2007, told BBC Sport: "It was a scrappy game - the two of us were under pressure. I need to get better."

The 33-year-old from North Lanarkshire admitted Holt had been unlucky not to have been leading at the end of Wednesday's session.

Read in full at the BBC