Steve Davis turns on style to beat Ali Carter at Welsh Open

Veteran Steve Davis put on a vintage display to knock out third seed Ali Carter in round one of the Welsh Open.

The 54-year-old's performance included two century clearances as he edged out world number 11 Carter 4-3.

"When it goes right it's lovely," said world number 43 Davis. "My aim is to keep my ranking lower than my age and see how long I can keep that going,"

Judd Trump and Ding Junhui progressed with 4-0 victories while John Higgins also reached the second round.

But it was the performance of six-time world champion Davis that stole the headlines.

He trailed his fellow Essex potter 2-1 after the third frame, but recorded a break of 121 to level the match.

Carter looked resurgent when he took the fifth, but Davis again levelled, with a clearance of 63, before knocking in a 117 clearance to wrap up the victory.

Bristolian Trump also recorded a ton break, making 104 in an exhibition-style fourth frame to oust Ireland's Fergal O'Brien.

China's Ding looked untroubled as he cruised past the Sussex-born Mark Davis at the Newport Centre.

But his compatriot Liang Wenbo could not hold off the challenge of fourth seed Higgins, who won the match 4-1.

In the preliminary round, Nottingham's Michael Holt whitewashed Wales's Ryan Day 4-0 and will now meet Stephen Lee in the first round proper.

Davis will meet Shaun Murphy in the second round, while Trump will meet Stuart Bingham or Mark King; Ding faces John Higgins.