However, a century break from Higgins in the fourth, followed by a 94 in the fifth, turned things around before he saw the match off winning the final two frames.

The 39-year-old former world number one, who was runner-up here last year, faces compatriot Alan McManus in the second round after the world number 29 defeated Gary Wilson by the same result in the first full ranking event of the season.

Hong Kong’s Marco Fu, currently ranked eighth in the world, moved past English opponent Craig Steadman 5-2 with a break of 111 in the fourth frame, while 2012 runner-up Stuart Bingham also progressed with a 5-2 win over Malta’s Tony Drago.

England’s world number six Judd Trump secured passage into the last 32 with a comfortable victory over David Grace of Leeds to set up a clash against Ben Woollaston, who saw off Ireland’s Fergal O’Brien 5-4.

The 24-year-old from Bristol took the first frame before his compatriot drew level, but the former world number one never looked back as he claimed the next four frames to complete a 5-1 win.

Chester’s Ricky Walden, winner here two years ago, raced to a 5-0 victory over Peter Lines with breaks of 66 in the second frame and 63 in the final frame to book a meeting with China’s Cao Yupeng, who dispatched Mark King 5-1.

Despite taking a 2-0 lead and impressing with a break of 104 in the second frame, Rory McLeod suffered a narrow 5-4 defeat to Michael Holt, who won the last three frames to advance and faces Sam Baird next.