All smiles from 'Melbourne machine' in Belfast

Australian ace Neil Robertson had plenty to smile about after powering his way into the last 16 stage of the Northern Ireland Trophy today.

The Melbourne potter, who is based in Cambridgeshire, impressed with a comfortable 5-1 victory over Stoke prospect Jamie Cope at Belfast’s Waterfront Hall.

No wonder the world number seven was relieved with his win, for it was the first time he had progressed to the last 16 stage of a ranking event this season.

Twice a ranking event winner last season, the left-handed ‘Melbourne Machine’ admitted: “It’s just nice to have won for a change. That’s the best I’ve felt all season.

“I didn’t come into this tournament with much expectation, but I was really happy with the way I played.”

Robertson, who beat Cope 9-5 in the Aberdeen Grand Prix final last season, has been plagued with a bad cold in the build-up to this event, as well as problems off the table which have disrupted his preparation.

But breaks of 60, 71, 74, 52 and 110 did the damage to earn the 25-year-old a meeting with either 2006 Welsh Open champion Stephen Lee or Preston potter Ian McCulloch on Thursday morning.

“I’ve had an absolute nightmare start to the season. Everything that could have gone wrong, has gone wrong,” added Robertson, who has split with his manager Brandon Parker.

“I’ve had a lot of off-table issues and my practice table is still not ready to play on, so my preparations haven’t been great.

“Jamie had his chances, but he’s probably a little bit more erratic than me. When’s he’s on form he belts everyone, but I scored heavily when I was in amongst the balls.”

Earlier, Ding Junhui made a winning start to the defence of his title.

Ding, who beat Ronnie O’Sullivan in last year’s final, enjoyed a comfortable 5-2 win over Joe Perry to book a last-16 meeting with Scotland’s Stephen Maguire.

Former UK and European Open champion Maguire defeated David Gray in the other morning match.

Ding, already winner of three ranking titles at just 20, opened with an 88 break before Perry replied with a 108 break to level.

Ding pinched a scrappy third frame and then pocketed a cool 90 break for a 3-1 interval lead.

World number 18 Perry reduced his arrears by winning the first frame after the resumption with a run of 76 break but Ding, the world number nine, added breaks of 65 and 127 to progress.

“I played all right today, but I scored heavy,” said Ding.

“There was a little bit more pressure on me because I’m the defending champion so I just wanted to win my first match.

“It was good to win here last year. I played well last season and played with confidence. It was a good feeling to beat Ronnie in the final.

“I’ve not played well so far this season so hopefully I can start to play better. I’m trying to rediscover the feeling I got when I won here last year.”

Meanwhile, Maguire wasted little time in beating Gray 5-0 in a repeat of the 2004 UK Championship final, which the Scot won 10-1.

Gray, who was playing in his first ranking event for nearly a year, mustered a high break of just 28.

“That was a great result for me, I wasn’t expecting that,” said Maguire.

“I’m doing well in first-round matches so hopefully I can have a good run now.”

Six-times world champion Steve Davis and former world championship semi-finalist Ian McCulloch are also through to the last 16 stage.

The Nugget fought back from 2-0 down to beat local favourite Joe Swail 5-3, while Preston potter McCulloch battled back from 3-1 behind to defeat former Welsh Open champion Stephen Lee 5-4.

Davis failed to record a break over 50 in his match with Belfast professional Swail, but made his experience count with his back against the wall.

Lee had breaks of 102, 108 and 68, but McCulloch held his nerve to progress with runs of 82 and 52.