Big names tumble out in second-round cull

Judd Trump, John Higgins and Mark Allen were all second-round casualties at the World Grand Prix in Llandudno.

Trump faced world champion Stuart Bingham, pictured, in a high-profile match-up early in the tournament at Venue Cymru and, despite an 85 break in the second frame, the man from Bristol was up against it throughout.

Bingham, who had taken the opener, responded with 57 and 69 to win the third and 72 in the next, and though Trump got another frame on the board, a fourth Bingham half-century wrapped up a 4-2 win.

Scot Higgins lost 4-3 to Ryan Day in a match featuring three centuries and an 80 break in the space of four frames.

Having lost the opener, Higgins levelled with a 107 but trailed 3-2 after Day made 104 and 103 either side of the Scot’s 80.

The last two were tighter, but Welshman Day prevailed.

Allen’s loss was perhaps the most surprising of all, especially having taken a 2-0 lead over Thepchaiya Un-Nooh with breaks of 53 and 89.

Thepchaiya levelled the match at 2-2 and the Thai player, best known for missing the final black of a 147 attempt at the UK Championship earlier this season, showed his break-building ability again with runs of 69 and 75 to win 4-2.

There was some good news for the sport’s big names as Ding Junhui – 19th on the projected world rankings list and in danger of missing out on automatic World Championship qualification – knocked in breaks of 78, 63 and 89 in a 4-0 win over Peter Ebdon.