Higgins hits his stride

World champion John Higgins took a step closer to reaching the semi-finals of this week's Malta Cup on Tuesday night with a welcome win over last season's runner-up Ryan Day.

The Scottish potter impressed with a 4-2 victory over Welshman Day in his second group qualifying match on the Mediterranean island.

The victory means Higgins heads Group One with two wins from two outings at the Hilton Conference Centre in Portomaso.

If the world number one wins his third group match on Wednesday against Tiptree cueman Ali Carter, then he would be well placed to make it through to the knockout stages of this year's week-long tournament.

"I've not had the best of seasons, so it's nice to get a few games under my belt in Malta," said Higgins. "I've been trying a few things with my technique, but the standard is so high these days that it's all on the day that matters."

Higgins pocketed a 48 break to edge 1-0 ahead, which he followed with runs of 46, 50 and 56 for a healthy 3-0 lead.

It could have easily been 4-0 to the Wishaw-based professional, but his opponent - runner-up at this season's Shanghai Masters - pinched the frame on the final black ball. But Higgins made sure of his second win thanks to a run of 62 in the next frame.

Day did win the last frame, but it is Higgins who is in pole position after day two of this year's £76,000 event, with the eventual winner set to walk away with £20,000.

In the second evening match Carter dominated his match against Maltese wildcard Alex Borg.

Whitewashed 6-0 by Higgins in his opening match, Borg did manage to win a frame courtesy of a composed 69 break, but that came after Carter had powered into a 5-0 lead.