Jack Lisowski safely negotiated his China Open first round clash as he overcame John Astley 6-2 in Beijing. Lisowski gained early control of the match and, despite his opponent rallying, held on for a relatively comfortable success.

The world’s number 15 is aware that he has work to do on the safety department of his game.

“I’m not too knowledgeable in some of the close frames yet, so I need to attack players and get some momentum going that way instead,” he told World Snooker. “I managed to do that early, get a little lead and just hold on.

“I think it’s just going to be a gradual thing. I’m aware of it and just have to keep working on it.

“At the same time, before I’ve started to think too much about it and lost my scoring and potting, so I need to keep that because that’s where my strengths are but hopefully, slowly, it’s kind of improving.”

With the China Open being the final ranking event before the World Championship, Lisowski is hoping to cement his automatic spot at the Crucible. He’s 15th right now and the top-16 after Sunday will be going to Sheffield.

He won’t become distracted by it, but does admit it is there in the back of his mind.

“I’m a fair few points ahead of 17th, so I’m trying not to think about it and just play my game,” he added.

“Matt Selt knows this stuff inside out, I asked him yesterday ‘how am I looking?’ and he said ‘you’d have to be very unlucky to be there’.

“I’m not taking anything for granted, just try and do as well as I can here and take it from there.”