Judd Trump. Picture by Monique Limbos

JUDD Trump secured his place in the second round of the World Championship but was forced to do it the hard way after an impressive fightback from Tom Ford.

Trump, bidding to win his world title, looked in danger of a shock first round exit when Ford battled back from 6-2 down overnight to level the scores at 8-8 and was in the balls to go ahead at the start of frame 17.

But the Leicester man failed to take advantage as a missed black off its spot and later a red with the rest denied him the chance to go in front.

Ford’s errors were punished by Trump who went 9-8 in front and then won the next frame to clinch a hard-fought win.

Trump, a Crucible finalist in 2011, will play Ryan Day in the next round.

“I got really bored and started to take everything on,” admitted Trump.

“I felt that if I carried on playing the way I was then he would have won, so I wanted to take everything on and let him have his chances, and if he missed I would clear up.”

Birthday boy Barry Hawkins got the present he was looking for as a 10-4 win over David Gilbert sealed his place in the last 16.

Hawkins, who had an overnight lead of 5-4, dominated the whole session winning all five frames. Last year’s finalist will next face Ricky Walden in a repeat of last year’s semi-final.