CHENGDU, Sichuan Province, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- Former world champion Shaun Murphy cruised into top 16 with a 6-0 whitewash of Andrew Higginson at the inaugural International Championship here on Sunday.
Breaks of 67 and 45 gave Murphy the first two frames and he looked set to add the third until he broke down on 52. However, Higginson also missed the pink ball when leading 67-59, only to allow Murphy to take the third frame and never look back.
"We (Higginson and I) practice together and we are good friend. I'm pleased to get through and hope to maintain that standard this week," said Murphy, who will meet the winner of home favorite Ding Junhui and Zhou Yuelong in the second round.
Australia's Neil Robertson also advanced to the second round after beating Ryan Day 6-3.
Chinese wild-card players staged a relatively convincing performance as three out of seven entered the first round following hard-fought victories.
Lu Haotian overcame a 5-2 deficit by winning four frames in a row to beat world No. 41 Michael White 6-5, while Zhao Xintong upset former world champion Ken Doherty 6-5 though he squandered a 5-2 lead.
In an all-China clash, Cao Yupeng also came from behind to defeat Wang Yuchen 6-5.
The inaugural International Championship, the richest tournament ever staged in China with prize money of 600,000 pounds, will run through Nov. 4.