Scottish Open: Ronnie O'Sullivan & John Higgins reach third round

O'Sullivan is chasing a fourth ranking title of the season

Ronnie O'Sullivan started and finished with century breaks as he beat Robert Milkins 4-1 to reach the Scottish Open third round.

The 42-year-old, crowned UK champion for the sixth time on Sunday, concluded with a 101 clearance, his 45th ton of the season and 919th of his career.

John Higgins rattled in three centuries - 144, 138 and 108 - and an 85 break to beat Christopher Keogan 4-1.

Defending champion Marco Fu also won, 4-2 against China's Fang Xiongman.

Neil Robertson, who has dropped to 20 in the world rankings after a poor season, overcame Liam Highfield 4-2, while Judd Trump beat Sam Craigie 4-2 and Ding Junhui overcame Chris Wakelin by the same score.

But Ali Carter is out after a 4-3 loss to Ashley Hugill, ranked 116th in the world, Jimmy White was beaten 4-1 by Welshman Daniel Wells and Joe Perry lost 4-2 to Stuart Carrington.

O'Sullivan, who will next face China's Li Hang - a 4-1 winner over Englishman Jamie Curtis-Barrett - said he was "inspired" by facing world number 33 Milkins.

"I do seem to play well against Rob," O'Sullivan told BBC Scotland.

"I think he inspires me because he plays the game really open, flowing and naturally. Once you see someone doing that you sort of think you better get your own act together."

John Higgins twice won the event when it was the International Open, but has lost two Scottish Open finals, in 1998 and 2016

O'Sullivan's sixth UK title last Sunday brought his tally of Triple Crown events - including five World Championship and seven Masters titles - to 18, equalling Stephen Hendry's tally.

"I am working on technical stuff," added the world number two.

"You get to a certain point when you know you're happy with your game, and if you're not you're just always tinkering with a couple of things.

"They take a while to get grooved in. Sometimes a bad habit comes in over time and disappears over time."

Higgins, who next faces Kent-based Northern Irishman Gerard Greene, admits he has a "decent feeling" about his prospects in his 'home' tournament.

"You can't play any better than that," said the 42-year-old Scot after a superb exhibition of break-building against Keogan.

"Everybody gets chances in matches and Chris probably had a chance to make it 2-2. Apart from that, he never really did too much wrong.

"You can sometimes get to a venue and have a decent feeling, and I am hoping it is this week for me."

Fellow Scots Stephen Maguire, who beat Pakistan's Hamza Akbar 4-2, and Chris Totten, with a 4-3 win over Mitchell Mann, also progressed.

But compatriot Alan McManus lost a final-frame decider to David Grace, Scott Donaldson was beaten 4-2 by Welshman Michael White, and Anthony McGill fell to a 4-1 defeat by England's Peter Ebdon.