ASHLEY HUGILL set up a potential meeting with former world champion Judd Trump in the BetVictor European Masters after a 5-1 win over Julien Leclercq in qualifying.

Hugill made a bright start at Leicester's Morningside Arena, winning the first frame 81-6.

The Melbourne snooker ace then doubled his lead by taking the second 73-21.

Belgium's Leclercq, competing in his first European Masters match after winning a World Snooker Tour card only two months ago, got on the board through a tight third frame, which the 19-year-old edged 62-61.

Hugill, who sits at a career-high 70 in the world rankings, replied by recording the match's first and only half-century-plus break (68) in a 94-1 frame win.

The 27-year-old got over the finishing line by taking the final two frames 68-14 and 63-24.

Hugill is now through the main draw of the European Masters, which begins from Tuesday, August 16 at Germany's Stadthalle Furth.

He will face either Trump or Thailand's Noppon Saengkham, who meet in qualifying in Furth rather than in Leicester, in the first round.

Trump won the European Masters in 2016 and 2017, just two of his 23 ranking event title victories, which also includes the 2019 World Championship.

The ex-world number one has no easy route to a match against Hugill though as he faces former twice ranking event semi-finalist Saengkham.

Hugill will be hoping to replicate or even better last season's showing at February's European Masters in which he beat top 20 seeds Jack Lisowski and Ali Carter before losing to now-reigning world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan in the last 16.