Gould eases into last 32 at Welsh Open

Pinner’s Martin Gould rattled in five breaks over 50 as he comfortably won his first two matches at the Welsh Open.

The world number 25 swept aside 21-year-old Welshman Jak Jones 4-0 in Tuesday afternoon’s first round, finishing it off with a 95.

He then overcame Rod Lawler later in the day, with some consistent break-building in a 4-1 victory.

Gould, 33, will play either world number nine Ricky Walden or Thailand’s Thepchaiya Un-Nooh in Wednesday’s third round.

In his opening match, Gould eased past world number 112 Jones, who came into the tournament with only one win since August.

The Londoner set up the first frame with a break of 32 and then emerged on top in a scrappy second.

He then began to show his class, with a 68 and a 95 to seal his second whitewash of the season.

Gould knew he faced a challenge against Lawler, who had beaten him in the UK Championship earlier in the season and is ranked just eight places below him.

He opened with a 55 to take the first frame but the 43-year-old Lawler levelled.

Gould stepped up a gear in the third with a break of 79 and then polished off a tight fourth to put himself in sight of victory in the best-of-seven encounter.

And he didn’t allow Lawler to pot before reeling off an 88 which booked his place in round three.

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