GWENT'S Mark Williams kept up the momentum from last week's title-winning performance at the German Masters to ease into the second round at the Newport Centre yesterday.

The Cwm-born star beat Hong Kong's Marco Fu 4-0 in little more than an hour and with two century breaks the world number two looks to be among the favourites to win his home tournament on Sunday evening.

“I'm really pleased to keep the good form going from Germany. It's easy to relax after you win a tournament but I kept it going well,” said the 35-year-old.

“I'm on a bit of a run at the moment and I know it's going to come to a stop at some point – I just want to keep it going as long as possible.

“I felt good out there,” he added. “Marco should probably have won the first frame but after that he didn't really have a chance.

“I played well and I felt confident. Two tons and a 50 is a pretty good start for me.

“I knew he would be under a bit of pressure trying to get back into the top 16 and I punished his mistakes.”

Williams is a big fan of the new format at this year's event, which sees the matches in the opening two rounds shortened to best of seven frames with no interval.

“It's brilliant. I've been calling for this for years and they wouldn't do it,” he said ahead of his second round clash with Stoke's Jamie Cope at 1pm tomorrow.

“Now Barry Hearn has come in and taken the sport by the scruff of the neck. The crowd can come in, sit wherever they want and watch both games. It's just a shame it took so long.

“I think they should even do it at the World Championships as well – what an atmosphere that would be.”

Veteran Dominic Dale could not keep up the 100% Welsh record, however, going down 4-2 to former world champion Peter Ebdon despite making a break of 139 in the second frame.

Also yesterday afternoon, Northern Ireland's Mark Allen beat England's Rod Lawler 4-1 and 2008 Welsh Open champion Mark Selby edged out fellow Englishman Stuart Bingham 4-3.

Today's order of play: 1pm – Shaun Murphy v Matthew Stevens and Stephen Hendry v Joe Perry, 2pm – Stephen Maguire v Gerard Greene, 7pm – Ronnie O'Sullivan v Ryan Day.